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Montgomery County Sentinel
Rockville, Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, Maryland
What is this article about?
Nicholas Yinger's 1953 letter to the editor describes the Worldwide Bible Reading program's origins in a 1943 Marine's suggestion for shared family Bible readings during WWII, its expansion via the American Bible Society, and promotion through Universal Bible Sunday since 1904 to encourage Scripture engagement.
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Nov. 13, 1953
To the Editor
Back in 1943 a lonely Marine out in the southwest Pacific Ocean wrote a letter to his mother in Philadelphia which made history.
He told his parents that he wished they could join with him in the daily reading of identical passages in their Bibles. This bond of fellowship, he said, would make it seem as though they were not separated halfway around the world from one another.
The mother telephoned an American Bible Society office to ask if she could be provided with some copies of a list of daily Bible readings. Such lists were prepared and circulated to others. Thereafter throughout the war years thousands of service men and their families shared an experience similar to this mother and her absent son.
As the movement spread, added impetus was given this program of concerted reading by utilizing the weeks just prior to Christmas. Millions asked for the selections which commenced with daily readings at Thanksgiving time. The initial printing of 6,000,000 copies of the bookmark had to be more than doubled the first year.
The aim has constantly been to encourage wider use of the Bible as a source of inspiration, guidance and self-help, with the hope that many will be won to faithful, regular, soul-feeding on the eternal words of Scripture.
The high point of the program has remained Universal Bible Sunday, the second Sunday of December, observed since 1904 in thousands of churches of all denominations throughout the United States and in hundreds of churches overseas.
Combining Universal Bible Sunday with Worldwide Bible Reading has resulted in the most widespread crusade ever to reach the American public on behalf of reading God's Word. The Holy Bible is indeed "The Book To Live By, A Light and A Guide and shows you The Way Out of the dark." It leads you to the One and only true God.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Yinger
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
Nicholas Yinger
Recipient
To The Editor
Main Argument
the letter recounts the origin and growth of the worldwide bible reading program, starting from a marine's 1943 letter suggesting shared bible readings with his family, which expanded during wwii and emphasizes encouraging regular bible use for inspiration and guidance, highlighted by universal bible sunday.
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