With less than a quarter of Kiwi Christians reading their Bibles each week, Bible Society have launched into a strategic partnership with Scripture Union and Wycliffe Bible Translators New Zealand to develop the E100 Bible Reading Challenge.  It launches across the country on 18 April 2010.

E100 is the essential 100 readings through the Bible, 50 in the Old Testament and 50 in the New Testament.  The 100 readings give participants a better understanding of the Bible story.  The challenge is also designed to facilitate community reading of Scripture with small group resources available.

The challenge was trialled in five churches early in 2009 and feedback was used to further develop resources and promote the challenge nationwide.  There will be a companion book with thoughtful commentary, a quick start pocket planner with little punch out holes so participants can track their progress, a fun activity-filled resource for children and families and also digital extras such as Facebook and Twitter resources.  We’re also teaming up with Rhema Broadcasting to commission 20 prominent Christians to take the challenge and blog about their experiences.  Their blog entries will be recorded and aired on Rhema and even podcasted.

This is a large undertaking with the aim of having tens of thousands of Kiwi Christians all over the nation reading the same Scriptures together.