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
Genesis 1-9 - Jeri Le Henry (Warren County)
Genesis 10-18 - ????? - Tara Hellinkson (Poweshiek County) reading from home
Genesis 19-25 - Caren Knight (Jasper County)
Genesis 26-31 - Kaylyn Strawn (Marshall County)
Genesis 32-38 - Gale Perrin (Jasper County)
Genesis 39-44 - Paula Perrin (Jasper County)
Genesis 45-50 - Trey Knight (Jasper County)
Exodus 1-9 - Aila Strawn (Marshall County)
Exodus 10-15 - JD Stegall - (? County)
Exodus 16-24 - Denise Nelson (Dallas County)
Exodus 25-32 - Beverly Juhl (Warren County)
Exodus 33-40 - Rep Eddie Andrews (? County)
Leviticus 1-8 - Brandy Strawn (Marshall County)
Leviticus 9-14 - ????? - Pat Wild (Dallas County) reading from home
Leviticus 15-21 - ????? - Pat Wild (Dallas County) reading from home
Leviticus 22-27 - ????? - Pat Wild (Dallas County) reading from home
Numbers 1-6 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
Numbers 7-12 - Rick Stotts - Hamilton County
Numbers 13-20 - ????? - Kim Stotts (Hamilton County) reading from home
Numbers 21-25
Numbers 26-32 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
Numbers 33-Deuteronomy 2 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
Deuteronomy 3-10 - ????? - Bart Beiker (Johnson County) reading from home
Deuteronomy 11-18 - ????? - Judy Beiker (Johnson County) reading from home
Deuteronomy 19-28 - ????? - Barbara Hackmann (Fayette County) reading from home
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"
Joshua 1-8 - Gabriel (Tina Palait's grandson - Dickinson County)
Joshua 9-15 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
Joshua 16-23 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
Joshua 24-Judges 5 - Joshua Gonzales - (Palo Alto County)
Judges 6-11 - Becky Jantz (Polk County)
Judges 12-19 - Steve Jantz (Polk County)
Judges 20-Ruth 4 - Mary J Russell (Polk County)
1 Samuel 1-9 - Karen Pierce (Webster County)
1 Samuel 10-16 - Karen Pierce (Webster County)
1 Samuel 17-22 - Evan Strawn (Marshall County)
1 Samuel 23-31 - Jaimi Anderson (Polk County)
2 Samuel 1-7 - Herb Schreur (Wright County) - Nancy Wagoner (Jackson County) reading from home
2 Samuel 8-14 - Laurie Shreur (Wright County) - Dan Brownlee (Des Moines County) reading from home
2 Samuel 15-20 - Austin Lette (Buchanan County) - Karen Brownlee (Des Moines County) reading from home
2 Samuel 21-24 - Peg Buscher ( - Wayne Wagoner (Jackson County) reading from home
1 Kings 1-7 - Mike Nelson (Marshall County)
1 Kings 8-12 - Mike Nelson (Marshall County)
1 Kings 13-18 - Mike Nelson (Marshall County)
1 Kings 19 - 2 Kings 2 - Mike Nelson (Marshall County)
2 Kings 3-8 - Sherrie Nelson (Marshall County)
2 Kings 9-14 - Sherrie Nelson (Marshall County)
2 Kings 15-19 - Sherrie Nelson (Marshall County)
2 Kings 20-25 - Sherrie Nelson (Marshall County)
The Historical Books "The Writings"
1 Chronicles 1-6 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
1 Chronicles 7-12 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
1 Chronicles 13-21 - Connie Thompson (Wright County)
10:00-11:00 AM Proclamation of God's Word~Prayer~Praise
1 Chronicles 22-29 - Pastor George Lautner (Wright County) - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
2 Chronicles 1-7 - Naomi Lette (Wright County)
2 Chronicles 8-16 - Michael Lette (Wright County)
2 Chronicles 17-24 - Greg Soenson (Wright County)
2 Chronicles 25-31 - Liz Soenson (Wright County)
2 Chronicles 32-36 - Darla Thompson (Wright County)
Ezra 1-5 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
Ezra 6-10 - ????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
Nehemiah 1-8 - Martha and William Burch (Dallas County)
Nehemiah 9-13 -????? - Use Bible App for Genealogies/Lists
Esther 1-10 - Christine Dunwell (Jasper County)
Poetical and Wisdom Books
Job 1-10 - Tina Palait (Dickinson County)
Job 11-20 - Emelia Strawn (Marshall County)
Job 21-30 - Joyce Shanks (Jasper County) - Dixie Schildroth (Grundy County) reading from home
Job 31-36 - Jim Den Hartog (Marion County)
Job 37-42 - Rebecca Hurless (Polk County)
Psalm 1-17 - Calvin Burroughs (Clay County) - Marge Kessler (Polk County) reading from home
Psalm 18-30 - Carol Sherman (? County) - Marty Den Hartog (Marion County) reading from home
Psalm 31-40 - Brad Sherman (? County) - Linda W. (Mahaska County) reading from home
Psalm 41-52 - Frank Chirico (Polk County)
Psalm 53-67 - Lisa Chirico (Polk County)
Psalm 68-77 - Jeremy Dannewitz (Humboldt County)
Psalm 78-88 - Jimmy Sidebottom (Howard County)
Psalm 89-101 - Judy Sidebottom (Howard County)
Psalm 102-107 - Cheryl Semick (Polk County)
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
Psalm 119 - Chaplain Sue Schultz (Polk County)
Psalm 120-139 - Chaplain Sue Schultz (Polk County)
Psalm 140-150 - Linda Ferry (Linn County)
Proverbs 1-9 - Greg Lehner (Linn County)
Proverbs 10-16 - Alice Menne (Mahaska County)
Proverbs 17-24 - Alice Menne contact (Mahaska County)
Proverbs 25-31 - Alice Menne contact (Mahaska County)
Ecclesiastes 1-12 - Alice Menne contact (Mahaska County)
Song of Solomon - Paula Brown (Warren County)
The Prophets
Isaiah 1-7 - David Hoover (Marshall County)
Isaiah 8-15 - Steve Svaldi (Marion County)
Isaiah 16-24 - Lisa Chirico (Polk County)
Isaiah 25-30 - Leslie Mason (Wayne County)
Isaiah 31-38 - Ann Bigger (Clarke County)
Isaiah 39-45 - Jamie Boersma (Polk County)
Isaiah 46-52 - Liz Rhodes (Linn County)
Isaiah 53-60 - Al Perez (Polk County)
Isaiah 61-66 - Deb Davis (Polk County)
Jeremiah 1-5 - ????? - Rochelle Panthen (Hardin County) reading from home
Jeremiah 6-11 - ????? - Reader (Hardin County) reading from home
Jeremiah 12-18 - ????? - Reader (Hardin County) reading from home
Jeremiah 19-25 ????? - Reader (Hardin County) reading from home
Jeremiah 26-31 - ????? - Sharyl Ferley (Worth County) reading from home
Jeremiah 32-39 - ????? - Reader (Worth County) reading from home
Jeremiah 40-48 - ????? - Reader (Worth County) reading from home
Jeremiah 49-52 - ????? - Reader (Worth County) reading from home
12:00-1:00 PM Proclamation of God's Word~Prayer~Praise
Lamentations 1-5 - Marilyn Burch (Polk County)
Ezekiel 1-10 - Lyn Davenport (Ringgold County)
Ezekiel 11-17 - Dea Davenport (Ringgold County)
Ezekiel 18-24 - Jim Taylor (Polk County)
Ezekiel 25-31 - DeAnne Taylor (Polk County)
Ezekiel 32-38 - Juliana Dukes - (Adair County) - Joshua Gonzales - (Palo Alto County)
Ezekiel 39-43 - Donna Flynn - (Dallas County)
Ezekiel 44-48 - Kathy Schmit - (Donna Flynn's friend from Montana)
Daniel 1-5 - Bill Larson (Warren County)
Daniel 6-12 - Sherry Larson (Warren County)
Hosea 1-9 - Bob Nikkel - (Jasper County)
Hosea 10-Joel 3 - Rosemary Nikkel - (Jasper County)
Amos 1-6 - Julie Crawford (Polk County)
Amos 7-Jonah 4 - Ann Rutledge (Tama County)
Micah 1-Nahum 3 - Vicky Douglas (Tama County)
Habakkuk 1-Haggai 2 - Betty Karkosh (Tama County) - Mary Lehner (Linn County) reading from home
Zechariah 1-9 - Gary Karkosh (Tama County)
Zechariah 10-Malachi 4 - Pat Greiner (Grundy County)
The Gospels
Matthew 1-8 - Gaylord Schelling (Polk County)
Matthew 9-14 - Bev Schelling (Polk County)
Matthew 15-22 - Diane Widner (Woodbury County)
Matthew 23-38 - Anita Spivie (Dallas County)
Mark 1-6 - Melissa Pettigrew (Dallas County)
Mark 7-12 - Kate McGovern (Polk County)
Mark 13-16 - Tom McGovern (Polk County)
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
Luke 6-9 - Joan Acela (Madison County)
Luke 10-15 - Allison Naber (Madison County)
Luke 16-21 - Peter Jacques (Dallas County)
Luke 22-John 2 - Cathy McCall (Polk County)
John 3-7 - Cathy McCall (Polk County)
John 8-12 - Greg McCall (Polk County)
John 13-21 - Greg McCall (Polk County)
The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 1-5 - Deb Davis (Polk County)
Acts 6-12 - Sonja Stafford (Marshall County)
Acts 13-18 - Levi Stafford (Marshall County)
Acts 19-25 - Anna Stafford (Marshall County)
The Letters of Paul
Acts 26-Romans 4 - Mike Schneider (Dallas County)
Romans 5-11 - Mike Schneider (Dallas County)
Romans 12-1 Corinthians 6 - Al Brower (Iowa County)
1 Corinthians 7-15 - Joyce Brower (Iowa County)
1 Corinthians 16- 2 Corinthians 11 - Esther Stafford (Marshall County)
2 Corinthians 12-Galatians - Adam Steen (Polk County)
Ephesians-Philippians - Chaplain Sue Schultz (Polk County)
Colossians-2 Thessalonians - Lois Stafford (Marshall County)
1 Timothy-Philemon - Ezra Stafford (Marshall County)
The General Epistles and Revelation
Hebrews 1-10 - Rebekah Oleson (Jasper County)
Hebrews 11-James - Rebekah Oleson (Jasper County)
1 & 2 Peter - Rob (Rebekah contact - Linn County)
1 John -Jude - Rob (Rebekah contact - Linn County)
Revelation 1-11 - Carol Vermeer Neel (Scott County)
Revelation 12-22 - Shannon Shepherd (Polk County)
2:30 PM Closing Program
January 2016 - Inception of the Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon - Ginny Caliguri reading - Year 1
January 2017 - Dianne Bentley signing in the Founder's Bible scriptures read at the State Capitol during the 2017 Iowa State Capitol Bible Reading Marathon - Year 2
2018 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation signing - Year 3
2019 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation signing - Year 4
2019 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation signing - Year 4
2019 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation signing - Year 4
January 2019 - Year 4
January 2019 - Year 4
January 2019 - Year 4
January 2019 - Year 4
January 2019 - Year 4
January 2019 - Year 4
January 6, 2021 - Year 6
2021 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation signing - Year 6
2022 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation signing.
Governor Kim Reynolds' hand clap sent out revival over Iowa. - Year 7
2022 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation signing - Year 7
2023 State Capitol Bible Reading Marathon - Year 8
2024 Closing program of Iowa State Capitol Bible Reading Marathon - Presentation of the Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation by Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg - Year 9
2024 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation - Year 9
2025 Shofar - South Hall of Rotunda - Year 10
2025 Shofar - West Hall of Rotunda - Year 10
2025 - Shofar - East Hall of Rotunda - Year 10
2025 - Governor Reynolds proceeds to the podium with the Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation - Year 10
2025 Governor Reynolds presents signed proclamation - Year 10
2025 Governor Reynolds/Dianne Bentley with signed proclamation - Year 10
2025 - Time to pray - Dianne Bentley, Governor Reynolds, Paul Dykstra, and Jim DenHartog not shown - Year 10
2025 - Small group with signed Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon proclamation - Year 10