This is so cool, and I couldn't be happier to discover that Boise will be on their stop. From Publisher's Weekly comes this tidbit:
It may be the largest tour for a new title—a 90-city, 44-state tour
called Bible Across America. That is Zondervan's plan to commemorate
the 30th anniversary of the New International Version Bible.
A team of four is driving a 42-foot luxury motor home, more than
15,000-miles, criss-crossing the U.S. over the next five months. The
tour will make scheduled stops at events, churches, universities,
retail stores, American landmarks and other venues.
Bible Across America began September 30, starting at Zondervan
headquarters in Grand Rapids, Mich. Stops range from a NASCAR race in
Charlotte, N.C. to a young church leaders conference in Atlanta to the
National Pastor's Convention in San Diego, as well as signing events in
New York City and for legislators at the Capitol in Washington D.C.
(Tour stops and real-time blog updates can be found at
www.BibleAcrossAmerica.com).
This nationwide tour is also engaging more than 31,000 Americans to hand write the NIV Bible. Writers of America's NIV
will pen a single verse on actual thin-stock Bible paper. Each verse
and each page will be published together and Zondervan plans to create
two original editions—one will be offered to the Smithsonian
Institution and the second will be auctioned off to benefit the
International Bible Society in support of its Bible translation and
distribution efforts around the world.
Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan noted: "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."
When the NIV Bible was first published in 1978, its first printing
was 1.2 million copies. To date, it claims more than 300 million copies
in print worldwide. The NIV was commissioned by the International Bible
Society, which owns the copyright and is a long time partner of
Zondervan, and was translated by a team of more than 100 scholars
They'll be in Boise on January 22, 2009, location of stop to be determined. My calendar is already marked.
I'm still under the weather, hacking up a storm, now on antibiotics to try to kick this thing. My heart rate yesterday was 104, a little on the fast side (understatement) so the doctor is watching that too. Appreciate your prayers.
-rlh-
