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Corunna church group aims to make Bible museum a reality
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Thursday, July 9, 2009 10:40 AM EDT
CORUNNA - A local religious organization has faith its nearly year-long fundraising efforts eventually will pay off in the fulfillment of a dream - a museum dedicated to the Bible.
The Bible Nation Society, based in Corunna, was founded in 2005 and has been working toward reaching its goal of constructing the National Museum of Bible History in mid-Michigan.
“The museum would be a place to promote Biblical thought,” Executive Director Jason Georgus said.
Initial plans include, among other things, multimedia theaters, an introduction to the Bible, an Old and New Testament survey in which guests will be able to walk through a timeline of the Bible that highlights major events and characters, and a “Jerusalem shuk” exhibit, in which guests will experience an open air market.
According to the organization's plans, “this interactive showcase will teach and inspire scholars and skeptics to further appreciate Biblical Christianity.”
Bible Nation already has preliminary architectural drawings of the building, which would be more than 180,000 square feet in size, with the appearance of an open book.
The first stage of the project is estimated to cost close to $10 million.
Georgus said Bible Nation is currently looking at constructing the museum in the Birch Run area, and the organization has already partnered with contractors and architects from the Flint area.
“We're looking at being here in mid-Michigan,” he said.
He added the goal is to have a structure in place by 2011.
“This is something we're trying to fast-track,” Georgus said, explaining that 2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.
Georgus hopes to create a traveling exhibit marking the anniversary, which would eventually make its way back to the National Museum of Bible History.
“We would give it a permanent home at the museum,” he said.
The group is fundraising through a series of events it calls museum walks, and is encouraging church groups and organizations across the country to support the cause by hosting a walk.
The Immanuel Baptist Church in Corunna, where Bible Nation originated, hosted its second walk Sunday, raising an estimated $5,000. Georgus has high hopes that if groups from across the country each raise that amount of money, his organization's vision won't be far off.
“You can imagine the possibilities,” he said.
For more information, contact Bible Nation at 720-2267 or visit http://museumwalkonline.com.
- Contact Christina Guenthner at 725-5136 extension 239 or cguenthner.arguspress@gmail.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.
Al wrote on Jul 9, 2009 7:02 PM: