Members of a small Mississippi church say they watched their pastor preach through the entire Bible, Genesis to Revelation, for 96 hours straight this month, an endurance feat they believe has set a new Guinness World Record and turned their sanctuary into a round-the-clock prayer meeting.
First Baptist Church of Sharon, a Southern Baptist congregation in rural Jones County, live‑streamed the marathon from May 30 into the early hours of June 4 as senior pastor Matthew Olson worked through a carefully planned sequence of sermons covering every book of Scripture, according to posts and video archives on the church’s Facebook page and mobile app.[source] In a statement shared in services and on social media, church leaders said Guinness World Records has acknowledged receiving documentation of the attempt and is reviewing it for official confirmation.[source]
Olson, who has led the church since 2019 according to the congregation’s published profile, framed the event as an act of devotion rather than a publicity stunt, emphasizing his desire to “exalt the Word of God” and spark hunger for Scripture in his community.[source] In video clips from the pulpit, his voice grows increasingly hoarse during the first half‑day before rebounding as the effort continues, a turnaround the church’s volunteer medical team later described as “remarkable” during an on‑camera update to viewers following the livestream.[source]
Church leaders say the idea was born during a 2025 missionary training exercise where Olson spent four days in the woods without access to a physical Bible, an experience he has recounted in testimony shared with his congregation and in a recorded interview circulated by the church.[source] In that testimony, Olson said being without the written Scriptures for 96 hours made him freshly aware of the global church’s dependence on God’s Word and sparked a “holy curiosity” about what might happen if a local church dedicated that same length of time to hearing the Bible proclaimed aloud without interruption.
Under Guinness rules for the “longest marathon speech” category, participants are allowed five minutes of rest for every 60 minutes of speaking, with breaks able to be banked and used cumulatively if the schedule permits.[source] Church leaders say Olson’s team of pastors, medical volunteers, and timekeepers tracked his every minute at the pulpit and every moment off‑camera to comply with those guidelines, while independent witnesses signed log sheets and video files were archived for Guinness auditors.[source] The current publicly listed record for longest marathon speech on the Guinness website is under 96 hours, suggesting Olson’s attempt, if certified, would set a new benchmark.[source]
Throughout the four days, church members and visitors rotated in and out of the sanctuary, reading along in open Bibles as Olson moved from book to book and pausing periodically to pray for missionaries, local churches, and those watching online, according to worshipers’ accounts posted during the live stream.[source] The church’s administrative pastor, Jonathan Strickler, and discipleship pastor, Rich Gray, appeared frequently on camera to update viewers, appeal for prayer, and remind critics that the event was rooted in Isaiah’s promise that God’s Word “shall not return to Me void” but will accomplish what He purposes.[source]
Online reaction ranged from admiration to skepticism, with some social media users praising the congregation’s zeal for Scripture and others questioning whether such an extreme feat aligns with biblical teaching on humility and avoiding ostentatious displays of piety. Passages like Jesus’ warning against “practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them” in the Sermon on the Mount[source] have been cited by critics, while supporters point to public readings of Scripture in Nehemiah, where Ezra reads from the Law “from early morning until midday” as the people stand attentive and respond in worship.[source]
Theologically, the event sits at the intersection of several biblical themes: the sufficiency and authority of God’s Word[source], the call to meditate on Scripture “day and night” as in Psalm 1[source], and the danger of confusing spiritual spectacle with genuine obedience. For many watching from afar, the most enduring question is not whether Guinness certifies the record but whether hearing Scripture preached continuously for four days will bear fruit in ordinary discipleship—more consistent Bible reading, deeper repentance, and renewed love for Christ. As Olson’s congregation returns to its normal rhythms of Sunday worship and midweek ministry, they are praying that what began as a 96‑hour marathon will lead to a long‑term revival of hunger for the Word, in Sharon and beyond.