The Church of Jesus Christ

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept 30, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — More than 31,000 Americans will have a hand in publishing a new NIV Bible — America’s NIV — the first NIV Bible ever written “one-verse, one-person” at a time.

Zondervan, the world’s leading Bible publisher, is embarking Sept. 30, 2008 on a 90-city, 44-state cross-country tour — Bible Across America — to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the New International Version (NIV) translation, enlisting the help of the American people to publish its next Bible. A team of four will drive a 42-foot luxury motorhome, generously donated by RV supplier Spartan Motors, more than 15,000-miles, criss-crossing the United States over the next five months.

The Bible Across America tour will make scheduled stops at events, churches, universities, retail stores, American landmarks and other venues to allow people of all ages and walks of life to write a verse in the Bible, which will then be published and sold nationwide. The tour kicks off at Zondervan headquarters in Grand Rapids, Mich. and includes stops ranging from a NASCAR race in Charlotte, N.C. to a young church leaders conference in Atlanta to the National Pastor’s Convention in San Diego, as well as signing events in the heart of New York City and for legislators at the Capitol in Washington D.C. (Tour stops and real-time blog updates: www.BibleAcrossAmerica.com)

“The Bible is America’s favorite book of all time. And because of its accuracy, clarity and literary quality, the NIV has become the most successful Bible translation of all time. We believe that a completely handwritten version of the NIV Bible by people from all across our country will help America rediscover the Bible in a fresh, new way,” said Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan. “The Bible Across America is a symbol of Zondervan’s commitment to make the Word of God more accessible and more relevant to more people. We couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the NIV Bible than by inviting Americans to join us on this monumental tour and open more hearts to the Word of God.”

The NIV complete Bible was released in 1978, and since that time has become the most trusted, most widely read contemporary Bible translation today. With more than 300 million copies in print worldwide, more people use an NIV Bible than any other English-language translation. The NIV was commissioned by the International Bible Society, which owns the copyright and is a long time partner of Zondervan, and was translated by a team of more than 100 scholars.

Writers of America’s NIV will pen a single verse on actual thin-stock Bible paper. Each verse and each page will be published together as a complete America’s NIV Bible available in stores nationwide. The Bible will include an unprecedented index of 31,173 contributors, one for every verse of the Bible. Zondervan plans to create two original editions. One original transcript of America’s NIV will be offered to the Smithsonian Institution and the second will be auctioned off to benefit the International Bible Society in support of their Bible translation and distribution efforts around the world.

“When the International Bible Society first agreed to sponsor the translation of the New International Version, I don’t believe anyone could foresee the embrace and universal acceptance that the translation would receive,” said Keith Danby, CEO of IBS-STL Global. “The NIV translation has made the word of God more accessible and understandable, while maintaining the integrity of the original texts and it has impacted the hearts of countless people worldwide in just three decades.”

To find an event nearest you, or to suggest a “rolling stop” in your town, please visit www.BibleAcrossAmerica.com and leave the team a message.

Sponsors of the Bible Across America Tour include:

– International Bible Society: one of the largest Bible and Christian literature ministries worldwide, translating the Bible into languages of 1 million or more speakers and distributing Christian resources to engage people with the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ. It is the translation sponsor and copyright holder of the NIV.

About the NIV Translation

The NIV is one of the most distinctive Bible translations. In 1978, following 10 years of intensive translation work, a multi-denominational group of more than 100 scholars from five English-speaking countries, and financed by the New York Bible Society (now IBS-STL Global) created the NIV, an all-new contemporary English translation of the Bible. The first printing of 1.2 million copies was released to consumers as one of the largest book printings in the history of publishing.

About Zondervan

Zondervan is the world’s leading Bible publisher. With a vision to see more people engaging the Bible more, Zondervan produces bestselling study, devotional, reference, text, audio, software, and digital Bibles designed to inspire readers at every age and stage of life. Zondervan holds exclusive North American publishing rights to the New International Version (NIV), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008. The NIV, the most popular modern English Bible translation, has more than 300 million copies in print worldwide. Over the past 75 years, Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, has grown to be a global leader in Christian communications through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, children’s, and new media products. Visit Zondervan Bibles on the Internet at www.zondervan.com/Bibles