Bigger Conversations: Time to dust off your Bible for 2011’s Big Read

PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release

People across Great Britain are getting ready to take a fresh look at the Gospel of Matthew during Lent with the Big Read.

The Big Read is part of the Big Bible project, an online digital community that promotes regular Bible reading and engagement with contemporary culture. After the success of last year’s Big Read, which was based in Durham, this year’s project is bigger and better as it aims for a wider outreach. This year, it’s gone national on Twitter and Facebook and with multimedia resources available through the Big Bible blog, with a ‘blend’ of physical and digital materials. The latest statistics show that the website has more than doubled its visitors between November 2010 and February 2011*.

The Project is launching this year’s Big Read with Tom Wright’s Lent for Everyone: Matthew. As well as using the book, house groups will be able to take advantage of free online study materials from a range of contributors, including week-by-week group resources, videos and audio reflections, and a challenge to carry that learning through the week. The Big Bible website also allows people to discuss the text with people all over the world, from a range of different perspectives.

Bex Lewis, Big Bible Project Manager: “People become really comfortable in their own house groups, staying in the same one for years. The Big Read offers another layer of conversation in the online forums, where they can engage with others and where thinking can be challenged.”

Revd Dr Peter Phillips, CODEC: “Researchers at Durham University have found that although three quarters of the population own at least one Bible, only one fifth of people commit to reading it week by week.  BigBible offers a great opportunity to dust off your bible, share with your friends and neighbours and learn more about what God wants for your life.”

**ENDS**

Editors notes:

• Visit The BigBible Project: http://bigbible.org.uk/
• Bex Lewis and Peter Phillips are available for interview – please contact Anna Drew or Karen Burke (details below).
•  The project is supported by:
  • Premier Christian Media, the UK’s largest Christian Media organisation. www.premier.org.uk
  •  The Methodist Church: www.methodist.org.uk
  • Methodist Evangelicals Together: http://www.met-uk.org/
  • CODEC at St. John’s College: http://www.dur.ac.uk/codec/
  • SPCK: http://www.spck.org.uk/
  • 12 Baskets: http://12baskets.co.uk/
  • The Bible Society: http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/
• *Stats from: visitors rose from 1800 November 2010 to 4600+ February 2011

For more information on Premier Christian Media please contact: Sharon Molloy sharon.molloy@Premier.org.uk or Tel: 020 7316 1335

For more information on the Methodist Church, please contact Anna Drew (0207 467 5191) or Karen Burke (0207 467 5208) – mediaoffice@methodistchurch.org.uk.