2017 will be the “Year of the Bible” in Kentucky, according to a proclamation by Gov. Matt Bevin.

In the proclamation, Bevin and the writer of the proclamation, State Rep. Tom Riner, pastor of Christ is King Baptist Church in Louisville, recognized the Bible’s influence on the nation and the state by quoting men such as Ronald Reagan, John Jay, Harry S. Truman and Abraham Lincoln.

The proclamation states 2017 “marks the second year Kentucky has led the nation in celebrating the Bible’s significant impact on Kentucky and American institutions and culture by leaders in each county taking shifts to read through the entire Bible in Kentucky’s Bible Reading Marathon beginning Jan. 1, 2017.”

The proclamation coincided with the “Kentucky 120 United Bible Reading Marathon, an event that involved people in all 120 Kentucky counties reading the Bible aloud, in its entirety, within the first few days of the new year, Mark Harrell, pastor of Victory Christian Fellowship Church and one of the founders of Kentucky Prayer Focus, said.

Kentucky participated in the same event in 2016, with 90 counties participating. This year, with less time to prepare, 72 counties participated, Harrell added.

Harrell also said that the governor and his family participated in the Bible reading marathon in 2016 and that he wanted it to happen again. Among others participating in the Bible reading marathon were various elected officials, inmates and students. (WR)