'Bible Across America' Tour Nearing End
The "Bible Across America" tour is hanging out for the next several days around the Dallas area, where it hopes to conclude a nearly six month-journey that has reached cities throughout the continental United States.
"Our next public event is at Texas Christian University on March 23," announced the cross-country team, which is currently attending the Christian Book Expo in Dallas.
Since its launch on Sept. 30, 2008, the "Bible Across America" tour has been gathering handwritten verses from people from all ages and walks of life to create the first NIV Bible penned by 31,173 people across the nation.
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Traveling in a 42-foot RV donated by Michigan-based Spartan Motors, the "Bible Across America" team has traveled more than 19,100 miles, carrying with them actual thin-stock Bible paper for people to contribute verses on as a way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the bestselling NIV Bible, the most-used English language translation.
"The Bible Across America is a symbol of Zondervan's commitment to make the Word of God more accessible and more relevant to more people," explained Moe Girkins, president and CEO of publishing giant Zondervan, which launched the tour.
"We couldn't think of a better way to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the NIV Bible than by inviting Americans to join us on this monumental tour and open more hearts to the Word of God," she added in an announcement after the tour's launch.
The tour was originally scheduled to conclude Feb. 12 in San Diego at the National Pastors Convention but was extended to late March because less than half of the number of verses were collected due to a number of different factors, including weather, cancellation of some events due to mechanical problems and smaller turnouts in some cities.
Despite the change in plans, the tour's conclusion looks to remain the same. Upon completion, the collection of the handwritten verses will be published as a complete America's NIV Bible and sold in stores nationwide as soon as this year.
Zondervan also plans to create two original editions, one of which will be offered to the Smithsonian Institution. The other edition will be auctioned off to benefit the International Bible Society, which owns the copyright to the NIV.
Following its stop at the Christian Book Expo this weekend and Texas Christian University on Monday, the "Bible Across America" tour will visit Dallas Theological Seminary, the last stop listed as of Saturday morning on the "Bible Across America" website.
In addition to the road tour, organizers have also been holding additional signing events at churches in Zondervan's hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., to collect additional verses.
Zondervan is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, which in turn is a subsidiary of News Corporation.
