“Raise your hand if you’ve been transformed by the power of God’s word.”
These words echoed throughout the Lion Hills Center dining room Tuesday as roughly half of Columbus Rotarians in attendance raised their hands slowly, glancing across the room to assess their neighbors’ responses.
“If you haven’t, please come see me afterward,” Kate James, development officer for the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., said smiling. “I saw some hands not raised.”
Since it opened in November 2017, the Museum of the Bible has seen more than 4 million visitors walk through its 40-foot-tall bronze and brass “Gutenberg Gates,” seeking knowledge about the roots of Christianity and the history of its holy text.
Rotary Club of Columbus welcomed James, who works remotely from Grenada, to discuss the museum’s mission. During her speech, she threw in a few Bible trivia where correct respondents earned a museum hat.
After surveying pastors across the United States, the museum identified that a large concern that many churches have is biblical illiteracy among leadership, James said. The museum seeks to educate the public on biblical history through its D.C. location, research and traveling exhibits.
“One thing that we are working towards is making a biblically literate people group, both in the United States and all over the world because we are an international organization,” James said, emphasizing the importance of making the Bible accessible to people of all languages.
Mart Green, son of the founders of Hobby Lobby and contributor in the establishment of the Museum of the Bible, was a key founder of illumiNations, an alliance of organizations working together to have a Bible translation in every language by 2033.
“Because of AI and because of our great translators coming together that is possible,” James said. “We may even look at it earlier than 2033.”
James said translating the Bible to a new language begins with sending someone to a tribe that doesn’t currently have a translation and offering them food or fresh drinking water.
From there, the liaison develops a connection and builds rapport, helping develop a written language if one does not exist. A translation is developed which is then taught to the population by the trusted liaison.
The Museum of the Bible aims to be inclusive not only in their outreach efforts but also in the way it welcomes visitors of all religious backgrounds.
When someone buys a ticket, they are emailed a survey with a range of demographic questions including basic demographic information and interests.
“We’ve actually had I think a 10%-increase in Muslim visitors, a 14%-increase in Hindu visitors and then a 30-something (percent) increase in non-believers,” James said.
In an effort to reach those unfamiliar with the Bible, the museum offers an immersive experience, which allows visitors to get a taste of living in biblical times.
The museum has also made a concerted effort to get more school-age children involved and saw a 50%-increase in school group participation between 2022 and 2023.
“On paper, when we present to public schools, we are strictly a historical museum,” James said. “Because of that, we’re able to invite a lot of people who wouldn’t normally walk through our doors into our doors every day.”
Rotarian Amy Bogue told The Dispatch that her children love visiting the museum and always ask to go when they’re in town.
“If you happen to be in D.C., even if you only have an hour, make the effort to go by there,” Bogue said. “It’s so impressive.”
The Museum of the Bible offers virtual tours, lectures for audiences of all ages and traveling exhibitions in an effort to further develop their mission of biblical literacy, James told The Dispatch.
“We want a biblically literate society,” James said. “We want people to know God’s work. We want people to engage in God’s word and we want people to be transported by God.”
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