A world-traveling copy of the Bible, written in 66 languages, was on the last leg of its 20-month odyssey to Atlanta, Georgia, and the Seventh-day Adventist 59th General Conference Session. The Bible arrived at the Georgia Dome Thursday, June 24 for a celebration at 7:30 p.m. that night.

The Bible has been featured in stadium events, rallies and parades in nearly 130 countries, and held by governors, tribal chiefs, presidents and kings and queens. Monday night, June 21, it visited Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta.

Don Schneider, president of the Adventist Church in North America, said he was glad to  receive the initiative in his territory. "You have to have some pizzazz sometimes to call attention to the things you believe in," he said. "This is another opportunity to remind ourselves what we're all about."

Pictures from the initiative's website followthebiblesda.com show the Bible being read in Iceland, displayed at a rally in Fiji and held in parades in Kenya. "This has brought Adventists around the world together. They have recommitted themselves to Bible study," said Mark Finley, an Adventist world church vice president who added that the Bible had been rebound twice during its journey -- once in Europe and another time in South America. The cover was coming off, he said.

Paul Ratsara, president of the church's Southern Africa-Indian Ocean region, said those carrying the Bible would check computers and other breakable objects rather than give
up carrying the Bible onto the plane.

The Bible had a "huge impact" in his region,Ratsara said. At a stadium event in Zambia recently, people lined up for nearly two hours to see and hold the Bible. In Lesoto, the
king was so impressed that he vowed he would read the Bible more, as did a governor in Angola.

"I'm also impressed by the impact this has had on young people," Ratsara said. Youth led parades in his region, while in Botswana a 15-year-old church member almost completely
memorized the New Testament.