Transcript

American Family Radio thanks sponsor, Preborn for supporting pro life advocacy

Dr. Jessica Peck: We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsor, PreBorn. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, it's a divine connection and the majority of the time she will choose life. But they can't do it without our help. Preborn needs us, the pro life community, to come alongside them. One ultrasound is just $28. To donate, dial pound 250 and say the keyword BABY or visit preborn.com/AFR hello

 : and welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show prescribing Hope for Healthy Families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Hey there friends and welcome to my favorite time of day getting to spend time with you prescribing Hope for Healthy Families. I hope that you are having a great week. I cannot believe that we are going to be in April this week. You know, I always feels like the first few months of the year go pretty slow. For those of you who are wondering, do you still have your Christmas tree up, Jessica? And I will say, please, no judgment, yes, I'm, I'm sorry to say I still do. There have just been some life circumstances and some things that I just have one little tree that is just sitting so pitifully in the corner. But I'm determined to not let April roll around and have still up. But that is just feels like the status of my year. It is just going really fast. We are at April and Easter is coming up. I pray, hope and pray that you have activities planned with your family and I pray that you will ask someone, invite someone to come to church because research shows that most people will say yes if you invite them to church. So I pray that you will do that and that you'll invite someone to come to church with you this weekend. It is such a powerful moment and as powerful time to be able to introduce people to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because we live in a world that is filled with bad news. But we have got some good news and it's great to be able to share good news as we continue and as we are able to serve you from American Family Radio.

We have generation Z which are now older teenagers and college age young adults

Now, if you've been listening in the past few days, I've talked a lot about a lot of the concerns that I have and, and particularly about AI. I am very, very concerned about this pace that is happening and really the experiment that is happening in this generation. We have got generation Z which are now older teenagers and college age young adults. We have Gen alpha that's about 15, 16 years old and younger. And we have a new generation being born right after that. Now, from what I can tell, my best guess is that this generation's name is to be called Generation Beta. We don't know that for sure, but that's kind of the thought is we have alpha, we have beta. But I can't help but think that Generation Beta is really going to be the beta testing for AI and how it is changing the world. And when we have been so worried about social media and about cell phones, it almost seems like that is ancient technology. We're about to throw those in the pile with dial up modems and rotary phones, which I know younger listeners are saying, wait, what did you say? But we really have a world where is the a generation whose worldview is being changed at a very rapid pace and it is already being influenced. So I want to encourage you and invite you, if you have not joined already, to join us for our healthy habits journey. Now, we've been doing this, we do this every year, but in January we start over. And every Friday I, talk about a habit for healthy families in today's day and age. We want instant fixes, we want instant gratification, we want life hacks, we want miracle products. But the good news, this really is the good news, is that nothing is a substitute for the simple spiritual disciplines that we have and that have worked since the beginning of time. This means the sin issues, the heart issues that have underlined the entire course of humanity are in fact the same. And I am encouraged by that because it means that the simple things that we can do, like praying for our families, reading our Bibles together, doing a daily devotional, getting plugged into a church, those things are really still helpful, still just as relevant, even in a world that is being shaped by AI. So every Friday I talk about a healthy habit. Every once in a while we have a Friday show on a different day. If it falls on a holiday or if I'm traveling to go work and to be in clinical on mission, that. But generally every Friday we talk about that healthy habit. And I just want to encourage you to join in. We spent four weeks talking about some core spiritual disciplines. We spent six weeks talking about rhythms for your family. And right now we're smack dab in the middle of communication skills, some basic communication skills to help strengthen your family for whatever comes, AI or not. And one of the things that is coming is, America's 250th birthday. Now this is going to be a giant celebration. This Summer. And when I think about where we're living, we're living in a moment, really, of very deep division. A lot of confusion, a lot of chaos in our culture. Everyone has an opinion, everyone has a platform, but fewer and fewer people are anchored in truth, and truth is relative. And I would encourage you to check out, by the way, the Stand magazine. This is a magazine that's put out every month by American Family Association. I write a column on the very last page of the magazine every month. And this month, I wrote a column about Easter eggs and cultural truth. Let me share with you a little bit about my perspective, because I was looking at this concept of truth and what kids perceive to be as truth in today's day and age. And, hang in there with me, because this relates to America's birthday. But for right now, when we look at American culture, we look at world culture, there's a very big contrast, what culture says and what scripture says. And as you know, we are approaching Easter. Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate the holiest day of the year, of course, in remembrance of Jesus, death and resurrection, his conquering of sin and the grave forever. But is it just me, or. It seems like the Easter egg really competes with the cross of Christ as the predominant visual symbol. That's what we see everywhere, is Easter eggs. And you may wonder, like I did, where did that even get started? Did Easter eggs become the symbol of Easter? Well, there's some disagreement, but from. The best that I can gather from historical, from historical sources is that the Easter egg comes from. From pre Christian, pagan Easter traditions of celebrating the goddess of Spring, fertility symbols like bunnies and eggs. And through this, we have Easter eggs, which is a search for truth, but a truth that it is relative. And culture says, hey, the most important truths are hidden. And Scripture says, for what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. Culture says truth is a hidden treasure. Scripture says, jesus said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Culture says secrecy is prized through symbols that are hidden and their references that are obscure and interpretation that's very ambiguous. But Jesus said, I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple. I spoke nothing in secret. And culture says meaning belongs to the most ardent fans. Reality that whatever they think is an evolving interpretation of truth. But Scripture says, forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven. That's from Psalm 119. And so I think it's a great opportunity to always point back when we see what the messages are in culture, to point back to what does the Bible say? And right now, there is a movement that is calling America back to that foundation, back to the Word of God. It is a movement that is built on something that is far more enduring than politics or personalities. We're talking about the living, breathing Word of God. And my guest today is at the center of that movement.

Bunni Pounds is spearheading America Reads the Bible initiative

I'm very happy to welcome Bunni Pounds. She is founder and president of Christians Engaged, as well as senior vice president for the Family Policy Alliance. She is an author, she is a podcast host. And today we are talking about her mission, her vision to call America back to the Word of God through America Reads the Bible. She is helping to bring together an unprecedented coalition of ministries, of government, leaders, of pastors, of believers across the country, all united around one simple but very powerful goal. To get America back into Scripture. And from a national Bible reading initiative that's happening this year, April 20th, 18th through the 25th, to her brand new book, Stepping up to Lead, Rebuilding a nation in the footsteps of Nehemiah, Bunni is calling individuals and families to step into this moment with courage and clarity and conviction. And today we're going to talk about why this matters right now, what is at stake for our families, and how we can be part of rebuilding something that lasts. Bunni, welcome to the show. So grateful that you had time to stop by with us today.

Bunni Pounds: Well, honored to be with you, Jessica. And I know that I have hope, and I hope your listeners have hope that God is moving in our country and we're living that out right now.

Dr. Jessica Peck: It's so encouraging to hear voices from you say those things because so often I feel like we hear doom and gloom and we are addicted to the doom scroll, and all we hear is bad news and pessimism and just the things that are not going the way that they should be. Bunni, I would love for you, for those of us, those listeners in our audience who maybe don't know who you are, introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about yourself and your vision and how you're here today to call us to hope.

Bunni Pounds: Well, first of all, great, segue into the introduction of me, because it's my season. My name is Bunni. That is really my. My name. I love it. So I fit in the Easter season pretty well. I was named after Billy Graham's daughter, Ruth Graham. my father named me Bunni. but I spent, many years in, ministry and business with my Husband and then launched a political consulting career. spent six years, 16 years in government and politics, and then ran for Congress in 2018, slightly, lost a runoff, a million dollar runoff, in 2018. And God sent me on another path to create a Christian nonprofit ministry called Christians Engaged to impact people's hearts around talking to God and prayer related to our nation, but also voting in every election and being good stewards, engaging for our country. So, you know, over the last six and a half years, our team has built, a get out the vote system for Christians from a nonpartisan Christian perspective. We have now a million Christians that we serve through that system, we've built on demand video curriculum, like eight different projects, even a campaign school, to make sure that Christians are served in that area. And then, you know, we have a Gen Z program, a church outreach program. It's. It's getting crazy out there. even a Spanish Christians Engaged that we just launched, for Hispanic and Latinos. So I say that all to say as an introduction, Jessica, I did not need one more thing to do. Okay, not one more thing to do. But God spoke, to me. And we can get into what we're doing here. April 18 to 25, America reads the Bible, but it really is going to be epic.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Bunni, your optimism is just like a healing balm to my soul because we do see so much pessimism. And to hear your optimism, it is very genuine and it is contagious in the best way possible.

Bunni Pounds believes we have a leadership crisis in our nation

And there is a clear sense of urgency, though, even behind that optimism. I hear the urgency in your voice and in your message. I was able to hear you speak at nrb, the National Religious Broadcasters, and you issued this urgent call to action. But. And that's behind America Reads the Bible. What are you seeing in our culture right now that feeds that sense of urgency and makes this moment so critical?

Bunni Pounds: I really believe, Jessica, we have a leadership crisis in our nation. Whether it's ministry leaders falling right now, whether it's business leaders or education or media or government, we have to be better leaders. And I've been on this quest of teaching, the Book of Nehemiah for 15 years. It started out as Bible studies to congressional staffers and is now a book that's coming out May 19th on how we exemplify the footsteps of Nehemiah through our leadership. But it really hit me, literally two and a half years ago. I was in the Museum of the Bible, and I'm watching Ezra stand up with the scroll. And I had just Written a couple chapters on Ezra. So I was very familiar with the story. But it hits me that this is the problem with the modern American church. Like, we need a revival in the word of God. Just like ancient Israel, they had forgotten who they were. They forgot the promises of God, they forgot the miracles of God. They forgot the reality of who he was and who they were. And when Ezra stood up with Nehemiah and read Scripture, something happened to them. They became leaders. And so when Nehemiah shows up on the screen, on the scene and mobilizes them to repair the walls in 52 days, they got it done. And so that was kind of the beginning. Seeds of this, I thought, wouldn't it be awesome if our national leaders from all spheres of influence, all demographics and denominations would humble themselves in front of the American people and say, we need the Bible every day just to make it. You need the Bible every day to make it. And we want to see you go back to basic Bible reading and discipleship for the well being of our country. And what if we read the whole Bible, the whole counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation, in front of the American people? And what if we did it in the backdrop of the 250th birthday?

Dr. Jessica Peck: I'm going to stop you right there, Bunni. That's exciting. We are at our first break, but listen, you want to hear all of the details. Who, where, when, how you can be involved. You definitely will want to be involved. I'm telling you, I've seen the promotional materials for this and it is going to be really exciting. And if you haven't ever visited the Museum of the Bible, you should definitely go. It is incredible. And we will be back with more incredible and information to inspire you and give you hope. From Bunni Pounds. Right on the other side of this break, abortion moves fast. And right now in our communities, women are being pressured to make irreversible decisions. In moments of fear and panic, they're told to act quickly or risk losing support. And many feel they have no other option. But because of you, they do. At PreBorn Network clinics, a woman receives what the abortion industry will never offer. Compassion without pressure, clarity about the life growing inside her, and real support to welcome her baby and the hope with the gospel. She's given a free ultrasound and space to breathe. And more than 80% of the time, when a mother sees her baby on a preborn ultrasound, she chooses life. This March, PreBorn is believing to save 6,800 babies. But it will take 124 partners saying yes Every day I'm asking you to pause your busy day for just a moment and become a. yes. Right now. Just $28 provides one ultrasound. $140 helps five mothers. Every dollar helps save babies and share hope. To donate, dial pound 250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250 baby. Or visit preborn.com/AFR- that's preborn.com/AFR.

For the Good by Riley Clemmons: who can bend my burdens and make them beautiful? Who can bring the healing to the hurt I, hold? Who else could part the waters when I needed way? Though I'm walking through the valley I believe when you say, I believe when you say for the good, for the good you work all things together for the good, for the good your promise stands forever, you alone are my greatest hope, I trust you on the broken road you work all things together.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back, friends. That is for the good by Riley Clemmons And listen, today, what we're talking about is for your good, for your family's good, for the nation's good, and for the good of the world. We are talking about an initiative that is coming called America Reads the Bible. And there is something really powerful about recognizing that the answer to cultural chaos isn't, more noise. It is a call and to return to truth. And that is exactly what my guest, Bunni Pounds is doing today. She is a highly accomplished policy leader and has just worked in so many arenas in government and worked as a leader in policy and all kinds of initiatives. But God has given her a vision for reading the God of God's word from Genesis to Revelation from the. With the backdrop of the Museum of the Bible, it is going to be a really powerful event, and we are going to talk to you about it. It's not just an initiative. It's really an invitation for you to be a part of this. So, Bunni, before we talk about some of the details, talk about your vision for scripture rather than strategy or policy or legislation, which are all important tools. I'm a policy professor. I love policy. It's a great tool. But why the overarching higher call to scripture for real renewal?

Bunni Pounds: Well, the reality is, Jessica, that, you know, really, the founding of our country, people read the Bible as a textbook, right? They read the Bible. Even our most secular founding fathers, even, you know, Benjamin Franklin stands up in the middle of the Constitution convention and says, you know, maybe we should, pray right now, you know, maybe we should talk to our creator. It was in the culture, whether they believed everything or not. And the basis of law, liberty, and justice came from the foundation of Scripture. So it's, it is in our foundation, and I believe it's why our Constitution has outlasted every constitution in world history, that we should all be thankful and celebrate right now. what an amazing moment. But it really is wisdom, it's discernment, it is the love of God. It's the great story of God that he invites us into. And I'm praying a couple things. Jessica. Our team has just been amazing, I mean, for 14 months, if you can imagine, running Christians Engaged in Family Policy alliance, you know, all, all of the programs that we're doing. And then we add in a ginormous event with almost 500 speakers on top of that for our team and all of the fundraising and everything that it's taken. But we're praying two things. Number one, that God breaks complacency and apathy off the body of Christ, related to the power of the Word of God. That we realize we don't need to feel like going to our Bible every day. We have to go to our Bible by faith and that the Bible speaks and that we need that to be the leaders that we're called to be for the next generation. But we're also praying fervently for the American public that are going to see this live stream, or they're going to see the social media clips, or they're going to see this on Fox News, and they're going to see Candace Cameron, Bure our national spokesperson, our Cameron and B.J. arnett from the Forge movie, or myself, doing media interviews around this, that they're going to go, wow, you know, maybe I should pick up a Bible. Maybe there's something in this to break off depression, off my life. Maybe there's something in this to save my marriage. Maybe God can intervene in my life. And we're believing for a national moment that really calls us back to the Bible.

Bunni, you have a vision for a national Bible revival. I want you to lay out the vision for this

Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, let's go to that national moment. I want you to lay out the vision for this. What is it going to look like? Where, when all of the details and how listeners can be engaged, because this isn't just a passive experience. You're inviting them to be a part of that. And I love that. And I do invite our listeners right now to join in your prayers and against complacency, against apathy, and that people would be compelled to pick up a Bible. I have heard so many testimonies of people whose lives have been fundamentally transformed simply by reading the Word of God. And that is the vision that you are bringing. But it is a pretty big vision. Bunni, this is a big deal. Tell everybody how it's gonna happen.

Bunni Pounds: It's massive. And I give a lot of glory to God and just a whole bunch of sweat equity from our team. but this is what it looks like. April 18th, guys. On Saturday night, 7:00pm Eastern Standard Time from Mark Batterson's church, National Community church in Washington D.C. we're going to have a 90 minute show that is going to be our national leaders from all spheres of influence telling quick testimonies of the power of the Bible in their life and calling people back to the Bible. So as I mentioned, Candace, Cameron Bure and the Arnettes are our national spokespersons. Patricia Heaton is going to be there from Everybody Loves Raymond. In the middle, we'll have a cabinet secretary that I can't announce right now yet. We'll have members of Congress, David Barton, Tony Perkins, Pastor Allen Jackson, Billy Hollowell from, cbn. So many people telling their story. And then we're calling the nation at the end after Leland sings and Phil King sings Heal Our Land, we're going to be calling the nation to repentance and back to the word of God. It's going to be a powerful show that will be aired on Great American Pure Flix in front of their paywall for free to every American. So you can sign up for the live stream right now. It'll also be on American Family radio across the country on radio. So this is going to be an epic moment. And then 9:00am to 9:00pm Eastern Standard Time. So if you're in central time like me, that's eight to eight for seven full days, 84 hours. Nothing but a welcome and a gospel presentation at the end of the book of Revelation by Franklin Graham. The rest of it is almost 500 readers. Jessica. so many readers from American Family Radio as well. M. We're going from Genesis to Revelation and then we have 16 national worship leaders that are filling in the gap every hour because we have to schedule the Bible. So they're filling in the gaps each hour with prayer and worship. Leland Kim Walker Smith, Danny Gokey. So many people. so people are going to be able to enjoy this in dc we can talk through that, what that experience looks like, but also on the live stream. And there's going to be so much that people can benefit from.

Dr. Jessica Peck: How do you see scripture as a unifying and healing force in today's world?

Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, Bunni, in a time where we see American culture and really the world just divided and really hostile and polarized at a time like no other, at least in my lifetime, how do you see scripture as such a unifying force across all of these, these different areas and areas of division. How do you see scripture as a unifying and healing force?

Bunni Pounds: Jessica? I'm reading a very important chapter in the Bible for this program. I'm reading John 17, one of the most crucial messages for my life. That Jesus prayed that we would be one as he and the Father are one. That, you know that the word that the world would see us by, our love for one another. I don't think I've ever seen that in my lifetime. To the extent that we're about to see April 18 through 25, we have Catholics, Protestants, Reformed, Baptist, Charismatic, Pentecostal, all of us together. it is really an amazing moment. 122 national ministries partnering with us now. 6 cabinet members, 6 governors, 20 members of Congress, Hollywood people. I mean farmers, nurses, sheriffs, all of us, together. I have a hospice chaplain, I have a police officer. I have Native Americans, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, you name it, they're all going to be on that stage. Gen Z. We have tried to check off the boxes and make sure that America is represented in this program. and we're just, we're really believing that when we proclaim the word of God, faith comes by hearing the book of Romans says and hearing by the word of God. When you play this in your business, when you play it in your family room, when you play it in your church, that faith is going to enter people's hearts. And we really believe that the word of God is supernatural. That's why we're doing this.

Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, Bunni, it just seems like we live in a, ah, in a time where it's difficult to get anything done. Of course the whole nation is following the news of the partial government shutdown and saying, okay, when can we come to a consensus? When can this be done? And I mean, just. It just seems like it's very difficult to get people on board and to really move any agenda forward, to move a policy forward. But this feels like it has taken off like wildfire. And this just came from one woman with one vision. And you are leveraging the organizations that you have. But really, Bunni, this was something that God laid on your heart. And then you, you and I keep listening to you say, how many governors, how many cabinet leaders, how many everything, how many worship leaders, how many hours, how much organization this takes? How do you think that it has been successful? Why has it just gone forward so strongly? What do you see God at work doing behind the scenes of this movement?

Bunni Pounds: Well, Jessica, number One, I've been prepared for this moment in my life. I, you know, I'm thankful for the deep well of the word and intimacy with the Lord that's allowed me to shepherd this. but, you know, it really just took hard sweat equity. I mean, I think I did 200 Zoom meetings last year with ministry leaders across the country. I know them all now, you know, at some level. but it was a lot of organization. I had like a 20 page memo to myself of how we were going to implement this. And our team has taken that and we are implementing every day. We had to get through all the ministry partners strategically. We wanted to make this look like the body of Christ, which it is. And then we wanted to get celebrities and elected officials on and be strategic on how we did all of this. And it was well thought out. my whole team has planned this, to the nth degree. And we wanted to be sensitive, you know, to everybody's feelings or leanings or, you know, thoughts and really have a unifying moment. And we're doing the best we can to have that happen. And I believe the Lord is honoring that. So it's exciting. And I believe on the back end of this, what we're going to see, we have 14, national ministries that are giving away free Bible reading and discipleship programs that everybody can sign up for at our discipleship resources at America Reads the Bible. And we want to see hundreds of thousands of people get into Bible reading and discipleship programs. And this is going to be an audio and video Bible on the back end, that people will be able to enjoy for free on Pure Flix.com and on America Reads the Bible.com for years to come. So we hope it's a blessing to people. We hope that pastors, we have 500 churches now using the live stream in some way, but we hope this goes crazy and that every pastor and ministry leader will use this as an opportunity to impact their congregations with the power of the Word of God.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, Bunni, you've talked about a lot of different ways to engage. I've heard you mention going to Washington, D.C. streaming it in your place of work, streaming it in your church, personally watching it, listening to the Bible that's going to come out of this, the audio Bible version, getting plugged into discipleship. It feels like there are so many ways to be an active participant. Can you walk us through some of those specifically and talk about some of the different ways to actively engage and to tell a friend about it and get them engaged and continue to Grow the movement and grow the excitement so that we can all be ready, because this is right around the corner.

Bunni Pounds: Well, first of all, if your heart's burning right now, maybe you should get on a Delta flight and a Southwest flight and be with us at the opening celebration. So we have a couple hundred seats left for that. you know, give $500 and support the cause for us to finalize our budget on this. and then be there when Patricia Heaton starts Genesis 1 and 2 or later in, you know, Genesis or Exodus. It's going to be powerful that first day. But plan a couple days. Come bring your kids and grandkids. You get full access to the Museum of the Bible the day that you get your tickets, with us, which is only $50. So all of that is $50 for our whole art gallery that we're hosting with my friend Mindy Otten's amazing 66 paintings of the Messiah showing up in each book of the Bible. We will have prayer teams praying for people. We will have our top ministry partners there tabling. It's going to be a powerful thing to do. And we have affiliate events. We have evangelism going on on Saturday with time to revive. We have prayer walks going on. We have teaching ministries. They're coming into town and leading events. So you can sign up for multiple events and be a part of different things throughout the week. But for those that want to just stay home, that's fine, too. Use this. If you're a business owner, stream this for your employees. Like, say, this is our founding document of our country and we're just gonna have this playing all week. I'm really encouraged by the ministry leaders. Gordon Robertson just agreed that they're going to be streaming the whole thing at Regent University for the whole opening and the full livestream. Also, Colorado Christian University streaming the whole thing from their chapel building. And many more are coming on the nation of Malawi. Jessica, the government of Malawi is going to be reading 84 hours while we read in Africa. You know, Prison fellowship is putting 84 hours of prayer and, Bible reading into 84 prisons around the country while we're doing this. So people have gotten really creative of how they can use this national Moment of America Reads the Bible to help their ministry and do what they're called to do. And so I encourage every person listening to us to think outside the box, get creative, and see what God might have you do to impact people's hearts and lives through this.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, Bunni, as you talk, I really am just overwhelmed by the doors that have been opened just one after the other. And by the amount, the number of yeses that you've gotten, it just seems like you just boldly asked in faith and you have just gotten an answer back that says yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. And I'm sure there have been challenges, but to see something come together like this in such a way with so many people, as you said, of so many faiths, of so many backgrounds, so many denominations, I should say, you know, that is really exciting to me to see. And when we come back, we're about to go to our next break, but we're going to talk some more with Bunni about how to get involved in this and what you can do and what you can expect. But I do encourage you to consider participating in some way. Maybe you're at a university who could stream this, maybe you're at a church who could stream this. Maybe you do you just want to pack everybody in the car and head to D.C. and be a part of the opening when it happens at the Museum of the Bible. Or maybe the is something that you'll use with your family to talk about and to listen to God's Word. God's word proclaimed is really exciting. Movements don't start with everyone. They start with someone and that someone today who is here with us as Bunni Pounds. And what we're hearing is that this is a moment where families and churches and individuals can step into something bigger than themselves simply by opening the Word of God. That's. That's what we're going to do. More about America reads the Bible on the other side of this break.

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America Reads the Bible is a movement to read the Bible together

Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back, friends. That is God Only Knows by for King and country and listen. That is the posture that we have had that God only knows what the rest of 2026 has for us. But one of the things that we do know is happening is a movement called America Reads the Bible. We have Bunni Pounds here to talk about it today, about how her dream that she had the vision that the Lord gave her is coming to fruition. And from April 18 through 25, we she is leading a coalition of people to read the Bible from Genesis through to Revelation. This will start with a big event in Washington, D.C. at the Museum of the Bible. There are still some tickets available. That opening will be live streamed on American Family Radio, so you may want to tune in if you're not able to travel. And they have all kinds of ministry leaders, all celebrities, all kinds of people from all different walks of life who will be reading God's word from Genesis to Revelation with worship leaders who are serving in between those readings. It's super exciting. And Bunni, if you said that last year when you were putting together all of these coalitions for support, you have all kinds of organizations that are helping, that are supporting you. You said he had over 200 meetings last year. I want to know what that was like. If we come away from that. You have your finger on the pulse of the. The pain points, the challenges, but also the opportunities, the optimism. What was the general consensus? What did you learn from speaking with those ministry leaders? And how did that shape your hope and your vision for America? Reads the Bible

Bunni Pounds: well, on a practical level, Jessica, I think ministries are being pinched right now with the economy. They're being pinched with the, the changes in media. what are they work, what's working for them, what's not working for them to reach audiences and share the gospel. So everybody's looking at every single thing they're doing and they're rethinking it, in detail. Right. And, and asking God, how is AI going to change our life in the next couple years? Right. I mean, all of it's changing so rapidly, but in that sense that we don't know what tomorrow holds, I feel, more ability of people to say, you know what? We don't have all the answers within our own ministry, and we need other people. And let's get together where we can agree. Let's try to reach across, things and build bridges where we might not have been willing to build bridges before. And I think that's what we're seeing. And, you know, having something where we're saying we're doing something that's just about the Bible, guys, let's just read the Bible together. Let's not look down the line of, you know, who's reading 200 readers from us and analyzing whether we want to be a part of it based on that. Let's just say yes to reading the Bible together and let God sort it out. And I've Been really amazed at everybody's ability to do that and, to walk forward.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, you talked about reading in scripture, and Ezra reading scripture, and how that set the stage for Nehemiah and that you're talking about in your new book that's coming out very soon, this spring in May. I think May 19th is. Is the date that I see. It's called Stepping up to Lead, Rebuilding a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah. How does all of this, all of this, tie together for you? What do you see? Because you already talked a little bit about how reading scriptures and how that pushed people to action to rebuild the wall through Nehemiah's leadership. And how do you see that relevant for us today?

Bunni Pounds: Well, this has been a labor of love. I really see so many things in Nehemiah's life that we, as leaders need to emulate and go back to. this book, Jessica, is a chronological study of the book. So I go from beginning to end of the Book of Nehemiah, but I Also, in each 16 chapters, go through a characteristic of Nehemiah that he teaches, us how to be better leaders. We have discussion questions. I even, teach about an individual Christian in America today that is exemplifying those leadership qualities, like my friend Scott Turner, who's HUD secretary in the administration, or Patricia Heaton or Leland, or so many people from different industries. I'm so thankful for Candace Cameron Barret, who's been walking with me in this process of America reads the Bible, doing the forward for this book. But the reality is Nehemiah took on a burden. He took on a burden when he heard that the walls were broken down in Jerusalem. And he went to a place that we very rarely go as leaders. He went to the place of prayer and fasting. And I feel like what America reads, the Bible we're attempting to do is cut it all away. You know, we have gotten to the point where we are trying to live on 20 minutes at our local church on a Sunday morning from a preacher, and God's saying, you know, no, no, no. Come to me, hear me, Come to my word. Learn to meditate on the word. Learn to pray, learn to worship. there is so much in just simply walking with God that Nehemiah emulates in his leadership and the favor and the wisdom and his ability to stand on the wall when Sam Ballot and Tobias and everybody's yelling at him. That came from a deep well. It came from a deep place in his soul. And so what I'm trying to do in this book is call people back to simplicity for the sake of being the leader that God's called them to be for the next generation. And how we train Gen Z to do that and how we emulate it in our lives, for the mission, for the country. That's what we need to go. And that's kind of what this book's about.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, let's talk specifically about that element of prayer because there is a role that prayer plays before action. And we are just on the cusp of this event of America reads the Bible. And no matter if you have the resources to travel or if you have a forum where you can play this publicly or if you're just going to stream it personally, every single believer, every Christian listening can pray, can join in prayer. And so often, Bunni I think we so infantilize prayer, we just underestimate the power and the influence. And I know that prayer has been a really big part of this. And preparing. In your preparations, you've already told us specifically how you're praying, that you're praying against apathy and you're praying that people will pick up a Bible. How would you encourage those listening in these last moments before. Because we know that the enemy is going to attack, the public reading of God's Word. That is not something that the enemy would want. So how would you call listeners to join you in praying for this specific reading of God's Word?

Bunni Pounds: Well, Thursday night at 7pm Central, we are praying with members of Congress and national ministry leaders are going to be on a prayer call specifically for America reads the Bible so people can go to americareadsthebible.com and sign up to join us. We had hundreds of people last month join us for that prayer meeting. So you can join us anywhere. But Jessica, you're right. Like the warfare on this, I hate to say it, but since January 1st, it's been intense for our team, for myself personally, our family, for everybody involved in this. I'm getting notices from readers. Some people have been diagnosed with cancer. Some people are having financial problems, some people are having marriage problems. So I love the prayer people that are reaching out to me and going, I'm looking at the website and I'm praying over every single one of your readers by name. Would you do that? Would you do that? Would you pray over these 122 ministries? because, yeah, the enemy does not want us to proclaim God's word over our country from Washington D.C. he doesn't want to see people in Congress or the administration or governors read The Bible. so we need to pray for the technology. Please pray for our production team, pray for, our staff and our volunteers, pray for our funders. and, you know, pray for the last little bit I need. If you want to help, help me so I can walk on that stage and be paid for this thing. Paid for. but, you know, all I know is God is faithful and if we cry out to him and we say, God, use us in this moment, protect this, protect your word. He's good to do that, and I know he will. but yes, please talk to God about this. Please intercede with him. he's praying for us ever, we know from the book of Hebrews, making intercession for us. And I know he's praying over this national moment because it's his idea. It wasn't our idea. So I'm very thankful that we can rest in prayer.

Dr. Jessica Peck: You are  expressing religious freedom in a world increasingly hostile to that

Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, Bunni America is referred to as the land of the free and the home of the brave. That is the, a phrase that we all know and love and have an affection for in America. And I think about it and think about the freedom that you are expressing your religious freedoms. You are, you're very brave in expressing the vision that you have in making full use of your religious freedoms and expressing your faith in that. And as you said, the warfare is intense because there is debate about that. And I look at all of the things that you've done, you know, and even talking about your congressional run, or working for Family Policy alliance or working in, Christians, engaged, and even launching, I think you just told me a Spanish speaking version of that, all of those things. Where do you find the courage to express your freedom and to live out your freedom in a world that seems increasingly hostile to that, I would just

Bunni Pounds: say, Jessica, if you walk with God, like I was a young mom when we had a pest control company and I learned to trust God for our payroll every week. Right. Or when I got into politics getting attacked or my boss getting attacked, as a campaign manager For a U.S. congressman, or, you know, starting a church or starting different things. You know, you learn that when you step out that God will meet you. And I feel like we're just on another level of that. Right. I mean, the capacity in our faith grows as we walk with God. And I feel like, you know, I've been prepared for this moment and our team's been prepared, our movement's been prepared, our family policy councils around the country are participating and bringing people into this. everything that Dr. James Dobson built, you know, is being used in this moment, for this national event. And so I'm just very thankful for everybody's. Yes. And just knowing that God's prepared us for this moment. So I just encourage everybody walk it out every day. My friend Kyle Martin, from Time to Revive, keeps texting me every day, bunny, keep walking it out, keep walking it out. And that's what we have to do. And know that suffering and persecution will happen, it'll be painful, there'll be things that happen that you have to make quick decisions on. But he's faithful. He is faithful. And I'm going to testify the faithfulness of God when this is all over for sure.

Dr. Jessica Peck: I think there are probably people listening who think they have something that the Lord has given them some way to walk some vision out, you know, much in the way that he gave Nehemiah a vision to rebuild the wall. There are Nehemiah's out there listening right now, Bunni, who have that vision burning on their hearts. But maybe they're burdened by fear. Maybe they're weighed down by self doubt. Maybe they just, you know, they're discouraged. Maybe they just think, I don't know the way forward. Maybe they doubt their own abilities or they start to even doubt that. Did I even really get this from the Lord having, been through all that you've been through and accomplished all that you've accomplished. And it really just does strike me, you know, you talked about being a mom running a pest control business like, and now look at this vision that you're having. What encouragement would you give to your fellow Nehemiahs out there?

Bunni Pounds: just walk with Jesus, guys. He is so much bigger. You know, I keep praying out of Ephesians that he will do more than we can ever ask or think. Well, I think pretty big and I ask pretty big. So that's going to blow my mind when he does more than I can ever ask or think. But that's the reality. And I hope, Jessica, this is why we're reading the entire Old Testament in the Old and the NewSong Testament. Because when we see when we read the Bible, when, you know, some people need to take off work and they just need to sit under the public reading of Scripture for a whole week and read the whole Bible. But when you see the full story of God in the context of it and you see your life, that he called you into that story and he wants to use your life in that context, there is nothing you can't do in 2021 I had to take on the IRS that denied our tax exempt status in front of the whole country and we had to go to war against the Internal Revenue Service. There are things that God does in our life that we don't understand at the time, but it prepares us for the next mountain. And I just encourage everybody to get in the full story of God and let him use your life.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Bunni, you certainly are an inspiration and an encouragement and just a breath of fresh air. And I'm so grateful to you for just being having perseverance to see this through to completion. Tell everybody as we close our time together, where can they go?

Bunni Pounds: To learn more, go to americareadsthebible.com americareadsthebible.com get your tickets now in D.C. or join the live stream and you can pre order my book on Amazon. It's called Stepping up to Lead, Rebuilding a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah and Jessica. I am so blessed. Thank you so much for this conversation in your heart and your ministry and everything that you pour out every day. Love you, sister.

Dr. Jessica Peck: Oh, you. Right back at you, sister. Thank you so much. And listen, friends, if there's one thing that you want to take away from Bunni and I's conversation today, it is that we do not drift toward truth. And we're not going to build strong families by accident. We don't rebuild a nation by standing on the sidelines. It's. It starts with something so simple but so powerful, and that is opening God's word, reading God's word and listening to his voice and choosing to live it out right where we are, right in what God has given us to do. Because renewal is not just going to begin in Washington. It's starting in our homes. That is where revival is going to start. Around our tables, in our conversations with our neighbors and our community. Friends, in the quiet moments where we decide what do we truly believe and do we have the strength and the courage to live out our convictions again? If you want to be part of this national movement, you can join America Reads the Bible happening April 18th through 25th, and just take one simple step toward bringing truth back to the center of your life and to your family. And if you're calling, feeling, calling, called to lead in this moment, get a copy of Bunni Pounds' new book, Stepping up to Lead. It's a powerful guide for what it looks like to rise up in faith and courage and conviction. I pray the Lord will bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you. We'll see you next time.

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Jeff Chamblee : opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.