‘America Reads the Bible’ Concludes with Jesus’ Prayer for Unity
Finale features Bunni Pounds reading John 17, joined by Pete Hegseth, Ron DeSantis, Alex Kendrick, Jack Graham and other leaders
Bunni Pounds, Creator of America Reads the Bible, Reads John 17 during on Closing Day.
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I AM PR
April 28, 2026
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2026 /Christian Newswire/ — Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged, took the podium on the final day of America Reads the Bible at the Museum of the Bible—the very place where her 2024 visit to the Old Testament Experience first inspired a national call to Scripture reading and discipleship.
Bunni Pounds, Creator of America Reads the Bible, Reads John 17 during on Closing Day.
Like the nearly 500 other participants—from farmers and pastors to celebrities and elected leaders—Pounds read John 16–17, including Jesus Christ’s longest-recorded prayer for His disciples and future believers: “May they be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Since launching April 19, millions have watched portions of the 84-hour, cover-to-cover Bible reading—held in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary—via Pure Flix or in person. Earlier in the week, a recorded reading by President Donald Trump from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 marked a historic moment—the first time since Ronald Reagan that a sitting president has publicly read the passage.
Pounds was joined Saturday by a distinguished lineup of leaders and cultural voices, including Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida; Ben Quine, Vice President, Christians Engaged; Andrew Wommack, Andrew Wommack Ministries; Kevin Stitt, 28th Governor of Oklahoma; Pete Hegseth, 29th U.S. Secretary of War; Joe Kennedy, Author and Speaker; Paula White-Cain, Senior Advisor, White House Faith Office; Jack Graham, Jack Graham Ministries and Prestonwood Baptist Church; Stephen Kendrick, Producer and Author; Doug Collins, 12th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; and Sean Duffy, 20th United States Secretary of Transportation.
Franklin Graham closed the week with a prayer of salvation, inviting viewers and those in attendance to personally respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Christ, bringing the national reading to a deeply personal and prayerful conclusion.
Saturday’s worship was led by Marty Goetz in the morning and Bethany Stephens in the afternoon and evening.
“My prayer is that this movement to prioritize God’s Word will not end today, but will spark a national renewal the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Great Awakening,” said Pounds. “God’s Word does not return void.”
Bill Abbott, Great American President and CEO, added, “This week in Washington was deeply moving. To hear Scripture read aloud in our nation’s capital, especially as we approach America’s 250th anniversary, reminds us that many of the principles that shaped this country were rooted in biblical truth. The recognition of the Bible in those setting matters.
“For us at Great American Pure Flix, it was an honor to livestream 84 hours of uninterrupted Scripture, but the greater privilege was helping carry the Word into millions of homes. There is no better way to give back to this country than by lifting up the Bible and inviting families to pause and listen together,” he said.
MEDIA RESOURCES
Video assets (available through April 30):
• Opening Celebration – Highlights
• Saturday, April 18 – Opening Celebration Broadcast
• Sunday, April 19 – Day 1 Scripture Reading Highlights
• Monday, April 20 – Day 2 Scripture Reading Highlights
• Tuesday, April 21 – Day 3 Scripture Reading Highlights
• Wednesday, April 22 – Day 4 Scripture Reading Highlights
• Thursday, April 23 – Day 5 Scripture Reading Highlights
• Friday, April 24 – Day 6 Scripture Reading Highlights
• Saturday, April 25 – Day 7 Scripture Reading Highlights
IMPORTANT LINKS
Pure Flix, Livestream: https://www.PureFlix.com
Daily Schedule: https://www.americareadsthebible.com/schedule
Learn More ARTB: https://www.americareadsthebible.com
President Donald J. Trump Full Reading: https://icnk.io/u/yWX1Ncs605_v/
ABOUT AMERICA READS THE BIBLE
America Reads the Bible is organized around the theme One Week. One Nation. One Book. and continues to invite Americans to pause, listen, and reflect as Scripture is lifted aloud in the nation’s capital.
ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN MEDIA
Great American Media is the leader in faith and family entertainment, and one of the fastest-growing entertainment networks on television. Great American Media is home to a portfolio of entertainment brands that celebrate faith, family, and country, including Great American Family, the flagship linear network featuring original Christmas movies, rom-coms, and series; Great American Pure Flix, the leading faith and family streaming service; Great American Faith & Living, the unscripted companion network; and GFam+, an app that lets viewers watch anytime, anywhere. Great America Media, established in June 2021 by Bill Abbott and a group of US-based family offices, is available via cable, streaming on Pure Flix and YouTube TV, and on the GFam+ app.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Gregg Wooding — gregg@iampronline.com | 972.567.7660
Debbie Davis — ddavis@crosswindpr.com | media@crosswindpr.com | 214-802-8979
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