The 2020 Bible Reading Marathon kicked off in the nation’s Capitol on September 12 and will run until September 16.

This is the 31st year of the event and it is being held at the Faith & Liberty building across the street to the U.S. Supreme Court building. Usually done in springtime, the event was moved in summer because of the Coronavirus pandemic, reports The Christian Post.

This read, especially this year, is needed across our country. I think our nation’s hope lies in the word of God. —Keith Davidson, Founder of Seedline International

Indiana-based ministry Seedline International organized the Bible marathon and according to its founder, Keith Davidson, a team of 20 or so speakers will take turn reading from Genesis through Revelation in 90 hours. “They’ll rotate off and on and then other folks come in and rotate off and on. They have times that they sign up for.”

Davidson said they expect fewer readers this year because of the current health crisis the world is facing. “Last year, we had almost 500 readers. This year, it’s probably going to be around 300 because of COVID.”

For those who are not able to go to Washington, D.C. to read the Bible, Seedline International opened several online platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to cater to other readers. Davidson said a missionary from Mexico and South Korea signed up to read virtually.

Seedline has provided Bibles in more than 100 languages to allow guests from other countries to read Scripture and join the event using their native language. “We didn’t want to exclude anybody because of COVID,” the founder said.

A Pew study found that 35% of Americans say they read the Bible at least once a week. With the nation in turmoil dealing with a pandemic and facing racial unrest, now, more than ever, is the time to engage with Scripture.

“This read, especially this year, is needed across our country. I think our nation’s hope lies in the word of God,” Davidson stressed. “I think the Bible is our foundation and can give us that duration and give us hope to get back to where…America once was.”