Christians across Britain are preparing to take fresh look at Mark’s Gospel as they get involved in the 2012 Big Read.

The Big Read started in North-East England in 2010, bringing together Christians from different churches to study Luke for Lent - a book written by the former Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright. In 2011, the Big Read went digital and national, making full use of the social media that many of use every day. Over 24,000 people engaged on the Project website over Lent, others chatted on social media, 5,000 accessed the book via YouVersion’s smartphone app, and nearly 20,000 copies were sold. This year the Big Read will focus on Tom Wright’s new book ‘Lent for Everyone: Mark’.

Big Bible Project Manager Dr Bex Lewis said,
“Many people give up a range of foods for Lent, but The Big Bible Project encourages you to ‘feast’ upon the Bible. Free house group materials are structured around menus and include ideas for (conversation) starters and a main course, where you get into the ‘meat’ of the Bible.”

The project encourages small groups to meet to study the Bible, but also engage globally in ‘Bigger Bible conversations’ via social media.  This year it will involve daily social media challenges – to get people talking about the material and really engaging with it. Collaborating on the project this year are: John Pantry, Brian Draper, Bridgitte Tetteh, Krish Kandiah, Katei Kirby, Sheridan Voysey and Eunice Obianagha.

Professor Tom Wright, formerly the Bishop of Durham, now Research Professor at the University of St Andrews will be participating in a webinar on 21st February, 1–2pm, to launch #BigRead12. It’s an opportunity for people to ask him questions about theology, or his new book Lent for Everyone; Mark, so get your questions ready!

The Big Read is organised by the Big Bible Project, which is supported by Premier Christian Radio, The Methodist Church, The Bible Society, Twelve Baskets and SPCK. Big Bible is an online digital community that seeks to draw Christians from all churches and none into deeper engagement with the Bible through local reading groups and online conversations.

More information on The Big Read 2012 can be found at http://bigbible.org.uk.