Community spirited: Dargaville's Jane McDonell is creating some good, positive vibes in her community by organising a cover to cover Bible reading marathon in her town.
Northland New Zealand woman Jane McDonell has been inspired to create some community spirit by organising a non-stop community cover-to-cover Bible reading marathon over four days.
Mrs McDonell
decided to plan the Bible reading marathon in her town of Dargaville, as a way
of creating some hope and promoting her area in a positive way.
But she
needs around 600 people to do 15-minute reading slots and she only has 36
who have shown interest so far.
The Bible marathon will kick off on Sunday, March 22, at 3pm and will continue until the last page is read on Thursday, March 26.
“We need
the numbers so that we can get through the pages in the time,” Mrs McDonell
says.
She heard
about this being done in a town in England and it seemed to be successful in
bringing people together.
The mayor
of the English town and his wife were asked if they would go along to
participate in the Bible marathon and he turned up alone, saying his wife
was at home entertaining visitors who turned up just as they were leaving.
“He said his
situation with the visitors was similar to a story played out in one of the
Biblical books and he wanted to be part of it despite his visitors,” Mrs
McDonell says.
She
believes the Dargaville readings will create an awareness of community and is
an opportunity for people to participate in something that is community.
“Our
farmers have had a struggle with droughts and there are people unemployed and
empty shops in the town, so I thought it’s a positive thing to do and a way of
people coming together to participate in a group effort and be proud of their
area,” she says.
Mrs
McDonell makes it clear that the readings are not in any way about preaching to
anyone and everyone is welcome to join in, non-church or church people, visitors, towns people, rural people, whoever.
“Someone
commented to me that it’s a good idea if it would make people happy and
increase community spirit,” she says.
Various
groups and organisations have put the word out around their people and she’s
told community radio, newspapers, social media and asked for flyers to be put in shop
windows, as well as church newsletters and community notice boards.
Anyone
interested in participating in the Bible reading marathon in Dargaville can contact Jane
McDonell on (09) 439 8101 or mobile (021) 023 18539 and there is email:
fjmcdonell@hotmail.com
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