Many Christians make a New Year’s resolution to read the entire Bible during the year. One church in southeastern North Carolina did it during the first weekend of 2026.
Staff and congregants of Beach Road Church in Southport, North Carolina, began the new year with a public reading of the entire Bible in the church’s sanctuary over the course of 74 consecutive hours from Jan. 1–4. The event, known as RISE, began Jan. 1 and concluded Jan. 4, as the final words of Revelation flowed directly into the church’s worship services.
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By the end, 239 readers — which included a mix of men, women, children, families, young adults, widows, new believers and others — had participated, each taking 30-minute time blocks to read assigned passages aloud.
This year marked the sixth time Beach Road Church has started the year by reading the Bible from cover to cover.
“This is a way that we have found to communicate to our people that God’s Word holds a central place here and always will,” said James Zik, Beach Road’s lead pastor.
The name RISE is rooted in John 12, where Jesus says when the Son of Man is lifted up, He will draw all people to Himself.
“The idea is we’re going to lift up the Word, and we’re going to lift up the Son,” Zik said.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chad Austin and originally published by the Biblical Recorder.
