America Reads the Bible” kicks off in Washington, D.C., with its Opening Celebration and red carpet arrivals. The weeklong event marks 250 years of the Bible in America. Faith leaders, politicians and public figures will participate in continuous readings from Genesis to Revelation at the Museum of the Bible.

Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged and visionary behind America Reads the Bible who patterned the event after Ezra's public reading of Scripture, praised the President's participation and message recognizing the Bible's enduring role in U.S. history.

Her new release, Who Is Jesus?: Discovering Christ in the Gospels: A 12-Week Catholic Bible Study, published by Ave Maria Press — which follows Christ from his birth to his passion and resurrection — is aimed at both the first-time reader of the Bible as well has those who have read through the Bible more than once.

Even in early America, public readings of the Bible were commonplace. From colonial town squares to the halls of Congress, Scripture was not hidden away—it was foundational. Presidents from Washington to Lincoln referenced it openly. Schools taught it. Communities gathered around it.