SHAWNEE, Okla. (BP)–As part of Easter week, Oklahoma Baptist University is hosting a New Testament reading beginning at 8:30 p.m. tonight, April 12, and continuing until 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13.
“Approximately 275 people will be involved in the opening ceremony, reading and closing ceremony,” said John Nichols, OBU associate professor of mathematics and originator of the event at the Shawnee, Okla., campus. “Of those participants, approximately 200 will be OBU students. The rest are OBU faculty and staff, pastors and members of local churches and civic leaders.”
The opening ceremony will feature remarks from Jim Colman, OBU senior vice president for academic affairs; John Stappazon, collegiate ministries specialist with Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma; and Joe Merrell of Pottawatomie Lincoln Baptist Association.
The around-the-clock, 23-hour proclamation of Scripture, to be held next to OBU’s Stubblefield Chapel, will begin with a dramatic reading in the round by OBU students Hilary Albright of Springdale, Ark.; Desay Judd of Sonoma, Calif.; and Andrew Butler of Bowling Green, Ky.
Nichols said the event will include “dignitary readers representing different portions of the OBU community and Shawnee community selected to read specific chapters of Scripture.”
Closing ceremonies will begin at 6:55 p.m. Thursday, featuring remarks from OBU officials and representatives from the state convention and the Baptist association.
OBU, with 1,649 students, is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
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