2026 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon - Year 11

January: Iowa State Capitol Bible Reading Marathon - Friday, January 9, 2026; 8 am to 4:30 pm; Iowa State Capitol rotunda.

Polk County: Friday, January 9, 2026; 8 am to 4:30 pm; Iowa State Capitol rotunda, Des Moines, IA. Closing program is set for Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:30 pm with a presentation of the 2026 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation which will be preceded and concluded with prayer, praise, and worship.

I am looking for 156 individuals to read 30 minute portions (see chart below) of scripture completing a Genesis to Revelation read of the Bible on Friday, January 9, 2026, and attend the 2:30 pm closing program. Email Dianne Bentley at diannebentley60@gmail.com

One hundred twenty-nine (129) of 156 scripture portions have been assigned. Many readers will walk in to read on Friday, January 9. This will complete the 1st reading at the Iowa State House!

Extra walk-in readers and readers at home are participating in a 2nd reading!

We call this a double-down, a win-win for Iowa!

Praise the Lord!

8:00-9:00 AM - Proclamation of God's Word ~Prayer~Praise

The Pentateuch/Torah/Law

1. Genesis 1-9 - Jeri Le Henry (Warren County)

2. Genesis 10-18 - ????? - Tara Hellinkson (Poweshiek County) reading from home

3. Genesis 19-25 - Caren Knight (Jasper County)

4. Genesis 26-31 - Kaylyn Strawn (Marshall County)

5. Genesis 32-38 - Gale Perrin (Jasper County)

6. Genesis 39-44 - Paula Perrin (Jasper County)

7. Genesis 45-50 - Trey Knight (Jasper County)

8. Exodus 1-9 - Aila Strawn (Marshall County)

9. Exodus 10-15 - JD Stegall - (? County)

10. Exodus 16-24 - Denise Nelson (Dallas County)

11. Exodus 25-32 - Beverly Juhl (Warren County)

12. Exodus 33-40 - Rep Eddie Andrews (? County)

13. Leviticus 1-8 - Brandy Strawn (Marshall County)

14. Leviticus 9-14 - ????? - Pat Wild (Dallas County) reading from home

15. Leviticus 15-21 - ????? - Pat Wild (Dallas County) reading from home

16. Leviticus 22-27 - ????? - Pat Wild (Dallas County) reading from home

17. Numbers 1-6 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

18. Numbers 7-12  - Rick Stotts - Hamilton County 

19. Numbers 13-20 - ????? - Kim Stotts (Hamilton County) reading from home

20. Numbers 21-25

21. Numbers 26-32 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

22. Numbers 33-Deuteronomy 2 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

23. Deuteronomy 3-10 - ????? - Bart Beiker (Johnson County) reading from home

24. Deuteronomy 11-18 - ????? -  Judy Beiker (Johnson County) reading from home

25. Deuteronomy 19-28 - ????? - Barbara Hackmann (Fayette County) reading from home

26. Deuteronomy 29-34 - ????? - Linda Emeheiser (Dallas County) reading from home

9:00-10:00 AM Proclamation of God's Word ~Prayer~Praise

The Historical Books "The Former Prophets"

27. Joshua 1-8 - Gabriel (Tina Palait's grandson - Dickinson County)

28. Joshua 9-15 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

29. Joshua 16-23 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

30. Joshua 24-Judges 5 - Joshua Gonzales - (Palo Alto County)

31. Judges 6-11 - Becky Jantz (Polk County)

32. Judges 12-19 - Steve Jantz (Polk County)

33. Judges 20-Ruth 4 - Mary J Russell (Polk County)

34. 1 Samuel 1-9 - Karen Pierce (Webster County)

35. 1 Samuel 10-16 - Karen Pierce (Webster County)

36. 1 Samuel 17-22 - Evan Strawn (Marshall County)

37. 1 Samuel 23-31 - Jaimi Anderson (Polk County)

38. 2 Samuel 1-7 - Herb Schreur (Wright County) - Nancy Wagoner (Jackson County) reading from home

39. 2 Samuel 8-14 - Laurie Shreur (Wright County) - Dan Brownlee (Des Moines County) reading from home

40. 2 Samuel 15-20 - Austin Lette (Buchanan County) - Karen Brownlee (Des Moines County) reading from home

41. 2 Samuel 21-24 - Peg Buscher ( - Wayne Wagoner (Jackson County) reading from home

42. 1 Kings 1-7 - Mike Nelson (Marshall County)

43. 1 Kings 8-12 - Mike Nelson (Marshall County)

44. 1 Kings 13-18 - Mike Nelson (Marshall County)

45. 1 Kings 19 - 2 Kings 2 - Mike Nelson (Marshall County)

46. 2 Kings 3-8 - Sherrie Nelson (Marshall County)

47. 2 Kings 9-14 - Sherrie Nelson (Marshall County)

48. 2 Kings 15-19 - Sherrie Nelson (Marshall County)

49. 2 Kings 20-25 - Sherrie Nelson (Marshall County)

The Historical Books "The Writings"

50. 1 Chronicles 1-6 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

51. 1 Chronicles 7-12 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

52. 1 Chronicles 13-21 - Connie Thompson (Wright County)

10:00-11:00 AM Proclamation of God's Word~Prayer~Praise

53. 1 Chronicles 22-29 - Pastor George Lautner (Wright County) - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

54. 2 Chronicles 1-7 - Naomi Lette (Wright County)

55. 2 Chronicles 8-16 - Michael Lette (Wright County)

56. 2 Chronicles 17-24 - Greg Soenson (Wright County)

57. 2 Chronicles 25-31 - Liz Soenson (Wright County)

58. 2 Chronicles 32-36 - Darla Thompson (Wright County)

59. Ezra 1-5 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

60. Ezra 6-10 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

61. Nehemiah 1-8 - Martha and William Burch (Dallas County)

62. Nehemiah 9-13 -????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists

63. Esther 1-10 - Christine Dunwell (Jasper County)

Poetical and Wisdom Books

64. Job 1-10 - Tina Palait (Dickinson County)

65. Job 11-20 - Emelia Strawn (Marshall County)

66. Job 21-30 - Joyce Shanks (Jasper County) - Dixie Schildroth (Grundy County) reading from home

67. Job 31-36 - Jim Den Hartog (Marion County) 

68. Job 37-42 - Rebecca Hurless (Polk County)

69. Psalm 1-17 - Calvin Burroughs (Clay County) - Marge Kessler (Polk County) reading from home

70. Psalm 18-30 - Carol Sherman (? County) - Marty Den Hartog (Marion County) reading from home

71. Psalm 31-40 - Brad Sherman (? County) - Linda W. (Mahaska County) reading from home

72. Psalm 41-52 - Frank Chirico (Polk County)

73. Psalm 53-67 - Lisa Chirico (Polk County)

74. Psalm 68-77 - Jeremy Dannewitz (Humboldt County)

75. Psalm 78-88 - Jimmy Sidebottom (Howard County) 

76. Psalm 89-101 - Judy Sidebottom (Howard County)

77. Psalm 102-107 - Cheryl Semick (Polk County) 

78. Psalm 108-118 - Sheryl Plate (Jasper County) - Pete Semick (Polk County) reading from home

11:00-12:00 PM Proclamation of God's Word~Prayer~Praise

79. Psalm 119 - Chaplain Sue Schultz (Polk County)

80. Psalm 120-139 - Chaplain Sue Schultz (Polk County)

81. Psalm 140-150 - Linda Ferry (Linn County) 

82. Proverbs 1-9 - Greg Lehner (Linn County)

83. Proverbs 10-16 -  Alice Menne (Mahaska County)

84. Proverbs 17-24 - Alice Menne contact (Mahaska County)

85. Proverbs 25-31 - Alice Menne contact (Mahaska County)

86. Ecclesiastes 1-12 - Alice Menne contact (Mahaska County)

87. Song of Solomon - Paula Brown (Warren County)

The Prophets

88. Isaiah 1-7 - David Hoover (Marshall County)

89. Isaiah 8-15 - Steve Svaldi (Marion County)

90. Isaiah 16-24 - Lisa Chirico (Polk County)

91. Isaiah 25-30 - Leslie Mason (Wayne County)

92. Isaiah 31-38  - Ann Bigger (Clarke County)

93. Isaiah 39-45 - Jamie Boersma (Polk County)

94. Isaiah 46-52 - Liz Rhodes (Linn County) 

95. Isaiah 53-60 - Al Perez (Polk County)

96. Isaiah 61-66 - Deb Davis (Polk County)

97. Jeremiah 1-5 - ????? - Rochelle Panthen (Hardin County) reading from home

98. Jeremiah 6-11 - ????? - Reader (Hardin County) reading from home

99. Jeremiah 12-18 - ????? - Reader (Hardin County) reading from home

100. Jeremiah 19-25 ????? - Reader (Hardin County) reading from home

101. Jeremiah 26-31 - ????? - Sharyl Ferley (Worth County) reading from home

102. Jeremiah 32-39 - ????? - Reader (Worth County) reading from home

103. Jeremiah 40-48 - ????? - Reader (Worth County) reading from home

104. Jeremiah 49-52 - ????? - Reader (Worth County) reading from home

12:00-1:00 PM Proclamation of God's Word~Prayer~Praise

105. Lamentations 1-5 - Marilyn Burch (Polk County)

106. Ezekiel 1-10 - Lyn Davenport (Ringgold County)

107. Ezekiel 11-17 - Dea Davenport (Ringgold County)

108. Ezekiel 18-24 - Jim Taylor (Polk County)

109. Ezekiel 25-31 - DeAnne Taylor (Polk County)

110. Ezekiel 32-38 - Juliana Dukes - (Adair County) - Joshua Gonzales - (Palo Alto County)

111. Ezekiel 39-43 - Donna Flynn - (Dallas County)

112. Ezekiel 44-48 - Kathy Schmit - (Donna Flynn's friend from Montana)

113. Daniel 1-5 - Bill Larson (Warren County)

114. Daniel 6-12 - Sherry Larson (Warren County)

115. Hosea 1-9 - Bob Nikkel - (Jasper County)

116. Hosea 10-Joel 3 - Rosemary Nikkel - (Jasper County)

117. Amos 1-6 - Julie Crawford (Polk County) 

118. Amos 7-Jonah 4 - Ann Rutledge (Tama County)

119. Micah 1-Nahum 3 - Vicky Douglas (Tama County)

120. Habakkuk 1-Haggai 2 - Betty Karkosh (Tama County) - Mary Lehner (Linn County) reading from home 

121. Zechariah 1-9 - Gary Karkosh (Tama County)

122. Zechariah 10-Malachi 4 - Pat Greiner (Grundy County) 

The Gospels

123. Matthew 1-8 - Gaylord Schelling (Polk County)

124. Matthew 9-14 - Bev Schelling (Polk County)

125. Matthew 15-22 - Diane Widner (Woodbury County)

126. Matthew 23-38 - Anita Spivie (Dallas County)

127. Mark 1-6 - Melissa Pettigrew (Dallas County)

128. Mark 7-12 - Kate McGovern (Polk County) 

129. Mark 13-16 - Tom McGovern (Polk County)

130. Luke 1-5 - Phyllis Dunlap (Tama County) - Mary Lehner (Linn County) reading from home

1:00-2:00 PM Proclamation of God's Word~Prayer~Praise

131. Luke 6-9 - Joan Acela (Madison County)

132. Luke 10-15 - Allison Naber (Madison County)

133. Luke 16-21 - Peter Jacques (Dallas County)

134. Luke 22-John 2 - Cathy McCall (Polk County)

135. John 3-7 - Cathy McCall (Polk County)

136. John 8-12 - Greg McCall (Polk County)

137. John 13-21 - Greg McCall (Polk County)

The Acts of the Apostles

138. Acts 1-5 - Deb Davis (Polk County)

139. Acts 6-12 - Sonja Stafford (Marshall County)

140. Acts 13-18 - Levi Stafford (Marshall County) 

141. Acts 19-25 - Anna Stafford (Marshall County)

The Letters of Paul

142. Acts 26-Romans 4 - Mike Schneider (Dallas County) 

143. Romans 5-11 - Mike Schneider (Dallas County)

144. Romans 12-1 Corinthians 6 - Al Brower (Iowa County)

145. 1 Corinthians 7-15 - Joyce Brower (Iowa County)

146. 1 Corinthians 16- 2 Corinthians 11 - Esther Stafford (Marshall County)

147. 2 Corinthians 12-Galatians - Adam Steen (Polk County)

148. Ephesians-Philippians - Chaplain Sue Schultz (Polk County)

149. Colossians-2 Thessalonians - Lois Stafford (Marshall County)

150. 1 Timothy-Philemon - Ezra Stafford (Marshall County)

The General Epistles and Revelation

151. Hebrews 1-10 - Rebekah Oleson (Jasper County)

152. Hebrews 11-James - Rebekah Oleson (Jasper County)

153. 1 & 2 Peter - Rob (Rebekah contact - Linn County)

154. 1 John -Jude - Rob (Rebekah contact - Linn County)

155. Revelation 1-11 - Carol Vermeer Neel (Scott County)

156. Revelation 12-22 - Shannon Shepherd (Polk County)

2:30 PM Closing Program