Three hundred and sixty readers are needed for the 90-hour Bible Reading Marathon scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday night, May 3, and conclude at noon on Thursday, May 7, the National Day of Prayer.

The Salem-Troy Baptist Association is the host organization for the event but all churches are invited and encouraged to be a part of the annual reading of God’s Word.

The Bible Reading Marathon will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Gazebo on the square in downtown Troy with music by the Wilkerson and Sheppard families. The Bible reading will begin at 6 p.m. with Genesis 1:1.

As of Monday, there were still quite a few 15-minute reading slots available, especially in the late night and early morning hours, said Linda Adams, Salem-Troy Baptist Association administrative assistant.

“But I would say that, at this time, we have more slots filled than in the past two years,” Adams said. “We will have someone reading at all times –from beginning to end. If we don’t have a reader for a time slot, there is always someone from the association there and available to read. I didn’t have to read but twice last year because, once the Bible Reading Marathon gets under way and people begin to know about it, they will come and ask if there is a time available for them to read. Of course, it probably won’t be their time of choice. That’s why we encourage people to sign up early.”

Jane Hamrick is one of the many who have already signed up to read in the 2009 Bible Reading Marathon. She has read in the past two events and would not want to miss this opportunity.

“Reading the Bible is something that we should do every day,” Hamrick said. “To hear God’s Word is inspiring and it also honors God.”

Hamrick has read in the late night hours when only two or three people were there to listen.

“But that doesn’t matter because you read as much for yourself as for others,” she said.

Readers sign up as individuals, as couples, as friends, as church members and members of other organizations.

Anyone who is interested in being a reader in the 2009 Bible Reading Marathon may sign up by calling 566-1538 or stopping by the Salem-Troy Baptist Association office at 317 Ray Ave. in Troy or by sending an e-mail to salemtroybapt@bellsouth.net.