Maumee Churches Challenge Area Residents to Read Bible in 90 Days
Maumee Churches Challenge Area Residents To Read Bible In 90 Days BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
Got scripture? John Knollman, a Waterville hardware store owner, thinks everyone should, and several Maumee church leaders agree.They’ve teamed together to launch a program in Maumee to read the entire Bible, cover to cover, in 90 days beginning in January.
“The Bible is the foundation of all Christian beliefs no matter what denomination,” Knollman explained. He approached members of Maumee Churches United, a group of local church leaders from various denominations that meets monthly.
Rev. Howard Thompson, pastor of Cass Road Baptist Church, said the program unites the group in a common way. “It allows us to do something together. In a way, it allows us to worship together,” he said.
Rev. Paul Board of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church said the program “builds a community among congregations.”
The program is open to everyone and you do not have to be a member of a Maumee church, or any church, to participate, Knollman said.
Participants must read 12 pages of the Bible each day.
In addition, weekly meetings have been scheduled to provide discussion and a video about the material read that week. The meetings are flexible and offered at various times and locations throughout the week, so participants may choose a meeting each week that suits their schedule.
Knollman completed the program two years ago after he stumbled upon it while surfing the Internet. “It sure makes it easy and it explains it in common terms. It was designed for a small group or church, but I thought, ‘Why not a whole community?’”
Last year, through a coordinated effort with church leaders in Waterville, 154 people participated in the program. Andy and Rose Kandik of Waterville said it helped them grow spiritually together.
“It refocused our priorities away from material things to focus on doing good for others and it made us aware of what God expects from us,” Rose said.
Knollman said that reading 12 pages a day breaks the Bible into “bite-size chunks,” although he acknowledged that it can be a difficult book to understand. “Many people have tried to read it, but get confused, and this makes it easy for people to understand who God is and how he’s working even in the world today. His influences may be subtle, but they’re there,” he said.
Rev. Tom Schaeffer, associate pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Maumee, said reading scripture furthers spiritual growth. “I know people who have been Christians their whole life and never read the scriptures, and anything we can do to help equip people to do that, the better,” he said. Schaeffer said his church is incorporating the program into Mass and will preach on the scripture being studied each week throughout the 90-day period.
Knollman and his wife Marcia are so committed to bringing God’s message to people that they have invested thousands of dollars in personal funds to purchase the video equipment and advertise for the program. They will also lead all of the group meetings offered throughout the 14-week period. “You can go through a program like this, and by the time you’re done, you get a better understanding of who God is,” he said.
The program is free and open to everyone. To sign up, call (419) 441-0090, visit www.biblein90days.org and click on the Maumee link, or e-mail johnk90days@embarqmail.com.
The first week’s meetings begin on Sunday, January 4 and are informational. Lessons will start the second week.
Those interested may use their own Bible, or an official 90-Day Bible may be purchased for $13.99 along with the study guide for $5.99. They will be available for purchase at the first meeting.
The Maumee meeting locations and times are:
• Sunday, January 4, 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 112 E. Wayne St.
• Sunday, January 4, 7:00 p.m. at Cass Road Baptist Church, 1400 Cass Rd.
• Tuesday, January 6, 7:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Broadway St.
• Wednesday, January 7, 7:00 p.m. at The Church on Strayer, 3000 Strayer Rd.
• Thursday, January 8, 7:00 p.m. at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 310 Elizabeth St.
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