The Statesboro community is invited to gather for a special event celebrating faith, unity, and prayer as part of this year's Public Reading of God’s Word on the Courthouse Lawn. The event will take place from 8am to 8pm daily Wednesday through Friday, April 30 to May 2, 2025, at the Bulloch County Courthouse Lawn.
Event highlights will include:
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Continuous public reading of Scripture each day from 8am to 8pm, with
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A special performance by the Boro Community Choir on Wednesday, April 30, from 12pm to 12:30pm
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A citywide National Day of Prayer celebration on Thursday, May 1, from 12pm to 1pm
In addition, the community is encouraged to take part in a Community Prayer Walk (or Ride) around the Boro from Sunday, April 27 through Friday, May 23.
Participants are invited to:
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Pray for the nation, the city, and neighbors
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Walk or bike through locations such as the Georgia Southern University campus, downtown, or local neighborhoods
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Join with at least one other person for prayer, at any time and for any amount of time
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Use the provided prayer guide for focused prayer themes
For more information or to register for the Community Prayer Walk, participants can scan the QR code available on the event flyer (image below) or contact event organizer Renee Perkins at [email protected] or (912) 687-1447.
Organizers share Psalm 119:105, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" and invite everyone to join in this meaningful time of reflection, community, and prayer.
More about the event from coordinator Renee Perkins
"The Public Reading of God’s Word on the Courthouse Lawn began in May of 2019," stated Renee Perkins. "My husband, DeWayne, and I went to a Wycliffe Bible Translators Mission Conference in Florida where we met a lady from a little town in Texas. She shared with us an event that she had led for many years. That event was reading the entire Bible. What she shared with us just seemed to resonate in my heart. I asked the Lord if we could do that here in Statesboro? We felt His leading to do so."
Renee's husband, DeWayne, along with their good friends Don and Penny Smith, have helped her coordinate the event each year.
"I consider DeWayne and Don the ground crew since they get all the equipment set up and taken down each day," she said. "Penny began helping us last year. Nancy Watson, my dear friend, has also been my co-chair with the Community Prayer Walk. We have added others this year to greet ones who stop by to listen to the reading of God’s Word or have come to read God’s Word."
Perkins says each year, the number of readers grows, as does the number of participating churches and pastors.
The event draws people of all ages: "We have children who read with their families, the youngest being 8 [in 2023]" she shared. "The oldest reader was 86."
During their first year of reading in 2019, participants read the entire New Testament of the Bible, which took about 21 hours and involved more than 130 readers.
"Last year, we read God’s Word for 27 ½ hours, with about 220 readers participating," Perkins added. "This year, we will read for 29 ½ hours. Our goal is to read the entire New Testament, Psalms and perhaps part of Proverbs. We are excited to see what God will do this year. What a blessing it is for me to sit and listen for more than 27 hours and listen to the reading of God’s Word. Please come and be part of this community event."
