Written by: Andre Viljoen
Article source: gatewaynews.co.za

A new marathon record was set in South Africa this month. And no…it was not a running race over 42.2 kilometres but a sprint through the Bible in which fired-up members of the AGS Jesus is Lig Gemeente, Springs read out aloud the whole Old Testament and New Testament in an impressive 75 hours from the 14th to the 18th of February.

Gateway News spoke to Sonja Gerber, a pastor at the church, who accepted a challenge from Gerhard Nell of Lofdal Gesinskerk in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, which has completed two Bible reading marathons since accepting a challenge from the Eastern Cape pioneer of this spiritual endurance event, Illona de Wit, who has been hosting and promoting them since 2018.

Sonja said at the start of the year she asked the Lord what He wanted from them in this year in which the country is in a dire state, many people are unemployed and hungry and there is an election. She was led to arrange a 21-day congregational fast in February for people to seek the Lord’s face for His plans for them in their spheres of influence. And then she was led to incorporate the Bible marathon into the time of fasting.

Sonja Gerber completing her last round of reading during the marathon

“And I think that’s why we got so many lovely testimonies from people who took part in the Bible marathon — because they were fasting as well,” she said.

The Springs marathon also broke new ground with its venue. As the church is far out of town and draws members from different surrounding areas, it became clear that it would not work to use it as the marathon venue. This led to a decision to let people read from home with readers signing on to WhatsApp some time before the start of their slots to assure continuity. Readers completing their slots posted the chapter and verse they had reached.

Linda Brits during the marathon

Reading slots were 30 minutes and several people chose to read out loud for two to three hours. A number of participants took several slots during the 75 hours.

Sonja said enthusiasm for the marathon was high and late at night and in the early hours of the morning some people would WhatsApp the next person asking: “Aren’t you tired? Can’t I read for you?”. Two women, Amanda du Toit and Oni Loggenberg stepped in to oversee the smooth running of the event, staying up through the night in the process.

Pastor Ben Loubser, leader of the church, taking a reading stint

She said that from congregants’ testimonies it was evident that God used the reading-out of His Word to “open more doors to speak into people’s hearts”. One of the readers, Koos Oosthuizen, testified that while reading the Bible he was healed of arthritis and able to “throw away my crutch and walk normally without pain”. Her husband Danie twice experienced a beautiful aroma in the early morning hours, which they later realised must have been from God’s presence. Sonja herself experienced healing from painful, itching eyes during the time of fasting and Bible reading.

“I would definitely encourage other churches to take up the [Bible-reading marathon] challenge. You will just be filled in your spirit man You will know that God is there and that he’s talking to us,” she said.

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Date published: 07/04/2024
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork adapted from www.freepik.com

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