hello everyone. this is the day the lord has made so let's rejoice in and be glad if it. it is his day. welcome to the dedication of the museum of the bible the first world-class museum to the bible in the history of the world. what a blessing to have you here perk we're so pleased everyone is here we will

hear from people today in the world making history today as we dedicate this museum in the d.c. area but also the nation's museum and the world's cesium. we're on the world stage theater so with of. musical amazing grace with the second performance of last night and with a limited engagement through january 7th if you haven't got your tickets get them. go online to museum of the bible.org there is my commercial. [laughter] so with that innovative and global institute our purpose is to invite all people to engage in this book we call the bible but history in the

narrative and the impact those are the three themes you will see throughout the museum we have already lifted up thousands and with those questions with the new exhibit with policy and procedure but to ask ourselves those to litmus questions every day we are intentionally nonsectarian we don't advocate any specific faith tradition. this book is that of a foundation of many faiths and faith traditions but we believe in god's word will speak for itself. so with those three engagement elements and

mythical scholarship with accuracy and authenticity. it is entertaining with the mining exhibits they are very interactive as you will see if you haven't already in the educational programs to provide community our reach to this wonderful community as well as the rest of the world. the nonprofit museum we are pleased tuesday has no admission fee. donations are accepted we are a nonprofit. but we are pleased about that. so sit back and enjoy this history making even to. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to the greatest gospel singer of all time, time grammy award winner.

[applause] >> good morning. i did not know that. [laughter] i am honored to be here. this is an amazing place. all because of god's amazing grace. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen we will receive the of blessings of religious leaders and scholars, archbishop washington, we are admiral, chief chaplin's of the united states navy, president of the rabbinic cabinet of the jewish federation of for america. -- north america. my dear sisters and brothers my very first task today is to read a message that is a blessing and opening of this museum of the bible from

pope francis. his holiness, pope francis since cordial greetings and prayerful best wishes to all gathered in washington november 17 for the inauguration for the museum of the bible. is his fervent hope that this significant cultural institution will promote a better understanding that only of the rich and complex history of the biblical text also the enduring power of the message to inspire in shape the lives of individuals of every time and place those who look at the sacred scripture with the word of god will find

nourishment for their faith with that spiritual history so pope francis likewise with the us dollars of various traditions to have that in a religious understanding and cooperation with the bible's teaching with the dignity of every man and woman made in god's image and called to duane in a board to it just and reconciled world upon all of those associated with the museum of the bible and the opening ceremonies we cordially invoke god's blessing invoking wisdom in joy and peace and this message is side by the cardinal, secretary of state of the holy father.

was also asked to make a very brief comment and a prayer but the comment will take the form of something that we see. to have an opportunity to work together a number of years ago in the vatican and as a part of that they received a facsimile and a couple weeks ago when they were kind enough to show was a round, as we went into the room where there were many exhibits i was reminded of

the shared a gift of this facsimile and she said would you like to see the original? [laughter] that is what this museum of the bible does. it brings all of that reality of the sacred text into our midst so now let's pause and pray. good and gracious bader -- father as we come to gather today we ask all that make this a possible with the benefactors and the staff in the volunteers as well as the board of directors and everyone whose commitment is manifest and officially opens the doors asking all

those who blessed the museum barriers and hearts and minds are open to the good news may your word renew our faith to give us the confidence to share with others as we strive with your love and mercy this week for your most holy name a then. -- amen. >> since 2003 the senate deliberation with prayer to provide counseling and spiritual guidance for senators, family and staff over his career as deputy chief of navy chaplains he

has provided ministry to the chief of naval operations, secretaries of the navy and defense and commandants with the coast guard. please welcome the senate chaplain mr. black. [applause] >> one lead never want to follow chaplain black so i will precede. [laughter] [applause] would you pray with me? almighty and the eternal god, we humbly ask your boundless presence here this morning if you would blast the efforts and aspirations of those who labored to bring us to this day.

in those two hallow this moment and open these doors to reveal how alive and active your word has been throughout this century and how sharply it has pierced through those competing voices of culture and power to reveal its own authority. to have soul and spirit to influence thoughts and attitudes of countless hearts of all ages. breed your gracious spirit into the displays of art and literature and history to be so painstakingly collected and preserved to be useful for the instructions in new york is of the correction of this understanding effective and the revelation of the righteousness of the faithful you have called to share the good news. for this late you have shed on the path of history we are each turn of the great

fall and on this museum we've pray you're sustaining grace, with the strength of your name we pray, amen. >> standing here in this beautiful new facility on the day of dedication, as a representative of the people of the book i cannot help but say the figure for this museum, thank you for this wonderful gift for that terminology that we call the bible a gift so this museum that is dedicated to the book with a lasting impact to tell the accretive pay and imaginative way that

tells the story of the wandering of the nomadic people the motley crew the motley group of slaves to challenge a supreme people of the era so to believe in one god it is a book that tells the story and was it is that god asks of us. what does the lord require of you? to love mercy and walk humbly with thy god? with a unique work of literature with morals and ethics philosophy and poetry as well as the inspiring ideal's imparted by the of profits with the clarion call for justice for all. all we'll be treated with

respect and dignity for the opening package we're created in the image of god. throughout the ages our people to study the bible poring over its words to analyze every letter in search of everyone's and meaning and is therefore the foundational sacred text of our heritage. the book comes alive and is relevant and ever changing to complete the annual cycle being of the torah the real really begin to renew there reading because we seek god's eternal message to us. the story is told of rabbi who said why is it when you pray you do it so quickly but when you read the bible you take your time and it takes so long? the rabbi replied because when i pray i of speaking to guide he

has the prayer's of a lot of people to listen to. i don't want to take up too much of his time but when i read the bible god is speaking to me so i must do is slowly to hear every word and understand what it is that god asks of me. my bible teacher once said those and say the bible is wholly in that is why it is great those that say it is great and that is why it is wholly. regardless it is clear it is great and whole we are there any passages or words more uplifting tale love your neighbor as yourself? so justice to pursue in the beginning god am i my brother's keeper? do i walk through the fat out -- and then nation shall not learn

war any more. the man once asked thousands of years ago after given the concise answer he said the rest is commentary go and study. and bin to grow is and be inspired and take the words of the profit isaiah in the days to come to stand firm in tower above the hills all the nations shall gaze upon it with joy they will say let this go to the god of jacob to teach us of his ways solos aryan shall come forth from jerusalem.

in and we pray made a word of god emanate they all who come here grow and be inspired by the eternal truth so the words are not just proclaims so men and women can strive your teachings to bring into your daily life on and. >> senate chaplain very black. [applause] >> praise the lord nobody wanted to follow me after i gave the presentation. as the chaplain of the senate nearly 15 years and i have had the opportunity to

have some amazing moments with the dali lama and shake hands with of pope when he entered the capital and offering the invocation of the funeral of ronald reagan and gerald ford and when rosa parks was lying in order in the rotunda president george w. bush the ending next to me and did not even have a speaking part. but this is the of moment at the museum of the bible is god rewarding before my faithfulness on capitol hill. [laughter] [applause] walking distance from my office in a museum that

celebrates the life of most passionate about in my life because the word of god means to live on the cutting edge. it is powerful hebrews' says it is? and allied. so with bone and marrow with the intent of the human heart that is more bin you search it. is a treasure for me for those scriptures one hour a day because i of love to hear the voice of god reverberating in the corridors of my spirit.

it has taught me it is possible to live on the cutting edge and people start using motor vehicles as weapons of mass destruction and they defiled the sanctity of the house of worship with automatic weapons, we're living in challenging times. with the ephesians six it reminds us that there is the element of the demonic in our world against flesh and blood and the rulers of the darkness with the spiritual wickedness in high places. efficient -- he ephesians six says put on the armor. with the shield of faith with preparations of the gospel of peace.

with the sword of the of spirit this is the word of god and i discover the bible is three things powerful, convicting so in south america as a student missionary and i was seated between to serial killers. murdering of members of his family it was the most uncomfortable worship experience i have ever had. been there was the mission director declaring the of word of god hemocoel my

discomfort to say he will sing a the hem of the invitation and ran to the french and started to sing i have wandered far away from god. >> so to except maya llord and we baptized about 40 prisoners that night because the word of god is powerful. then we learned the word of god is convicted when i

arrived in college in alabama i didn't have very much money students were on strike, about 1500 students. my mother who had given my siblings and me that monetary incentive to know the word of god had inoculated me against all kinds of challenges. that said this is horrible food strive to have a conscience toward god a and humanity. as a boy from of could use to eating welfare cheats is this the best food you never had? [laughter] and my conscience said no.

pylos to grow from georgia because it did that. [laughter] and then to get back together. indicted not realize there was all holes scholarship attached to the one who was selected so act 24, 16 paid my way through college because of the word of god. [applause] and finally i learned that word of god is effective. and when i entered the ministry my biggest fear is i could not baptize anybody

i could not bring upon my a training but when i got up to preach the word of god things begin to happen because the word of god is profitable doctrine for instruction. to be complete the equipped in the end waiting to dip as we do my tradition provo watery grave of packages of. is it in spite of my ineptitude. in the weapon to enable me to live on the cutting edge. in alabama and the -- and

then i used to think to say with the voice of the archangel. into always demanded that as the day when i meet the word jesus of nazareth said the in the test of time in two slipped the surly bonds of earth and to do 100 things i

in the silence. covering their putting it mortality with the wind swept heighths is and what did day it will be that we can stay with the poet we could put out our hand and touched the face of god. god bless you.

>> ladies and gentleman please welcome of their innovator and a lifelong student of the zero were the president of the museum of the bible, kerry summers. [applause] >> no i have to follow very black and it alleges several months ago i would never do that again into out here i am. is the museum takes its place with the stars and of the galaxy in we are incredibly fortunate here in washington d.c. in the corporation relieved -- received in washington d.c.

with those various committees and agencies that function within the district and also the federal committees that we had to work through is one of the most enjoyable experiences we have had sometimes they don't get the accolades as they should but it was just fantastic with that news media. [laughter] >> given this moment right now of dedication in day gives us the chance to reflect back on the journey it has taken to get here in the challenges with this museum with of partnerships with a one news article that said it may have redefined

the museums of the of future certainly this is what the museums can benefit from and also of taken of moment for the people who put this together from clark construction. and then many other contractors a as we said last night and elsewhere 5,000 people from those in holding the duct tape together. and another 3,000 people in to all love you with the

financial support to make this possible and the legions who have offered prayers investing hope and belief with one church in particular when the property was purchased every month and still today. that is an amazing commitment many of you have similar commitments and other areas with this museum but we're standing on the side of an old refrigerated warehouse built 1923 and with of the years leading up to this moment why did you undertake his challenger this building? it has nine

different types of bricks to retake beverage down and start over this is juilliard has been here a hundred 80 years. ended as the strong as it was 100 years ago so what a tribute to to have these different faith traditions and we hope this building will have that type of impact just like the old brick building for so many years. so when people ask why now and what is your objective?

we created this museum to help our guest understand to appreciate the role of the bible in then to engage people so they too can enjoy what this book has done. we have no other agenda. this will be an experience the matter who you are or what age you are with the exciting experience with the use of cutting edge technology. in the space as we continue to impact people's lives in

today is our hope we open our hearts and minds of the visitors to learn the great story ever told with the story of the bible with contributions for more than 100 academic archaeology and cultural scholars from all different faiths. this museum is your museum somebody says what will you do with your museum? it is your museum. we would each of you to take a vintage of that the worst thing to do is build the museum and nobody comes so tell your friends about it hopefully it is something you just feel good you walk around to say this feels good in that is what we want to be is a place to sit in the coffee shop and it just

feels good that is what the bible is all about. >>. >> people come from all quarters of the glove to experience a the richest and culture the city offers it is the right place for this museum to be and it is fortunate to have been able to work with a gracious and hopeful host ladies and gentleman please welcome the mayor of washington d.c. [applause] >> good morning everyone. i am delighted to be here

and congratulate everyone involved with the opening with the museum of the bible i bring greetings from all those washingtonians who can enjoy this magnificent building is a museum. i was struck by what the chaplain said earlier he said he thought the museum was god's gift to him in right thought was the word of god and everyone who can express it brings those words alive like chaplin did so well is god gives to all of us. so let me again just say how much it is appropriate in the nation's capital we have museums and monuments where people visit us around the

world with the museum of the bible is built here. we are experiencing fantastic growth. with what goes up and up each and every year so to talk about the new destinations of washington d.c.. and to look at the museum of the bible as well. visitors come from all walks of life and faith traditions and replace of the world and with that wonderful journey with the additional landscape of washington d.c.. thanks for that wonderful

endorsement of working with local government. so businesses come to washington d.c. to get things done working hand-in-hand all those in the philanthropic committee. congratulations. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen we're honored to have those with us this morning the israeli ambassador to the united states, a steadfast champion and partner at the museum of the bible. [applause]

[speaking in native tongue] end david danced with all his might be for the al llord en david and all the house of israel brought up the ark of the lord with the sound. 3,000 years ago king david celebrated as the holy ark and it was carried into jerusalem a few centuries earlier leaving the children of israel to fight battles to make jerusalem capitulate between north and south but

he knew he could not serve as the spiritual center of the nation without the bible at its core. so keep brought the art into jerusalem where abraham's faith and was to sacrifice isaac were this to temples with later stationed for nearly 1,000 years. to celebrate the holidays and worship god with renewed commitment to those values we hold sacred that it demands.

and gathered to celebrate the arrival of the bible in your capital and to know if anyone here will be dancing but somebody should it has been the most prized possession of the jewish people the towering figures of memorialized with the monuments of this great city wycherley testify to that. president washington proclaimed the of duty of all nations to a knowledge of providence of all media guide and reportedly said it is impossible to govern the of a world without god and a the bible. tsa this deadly mix better citizens then better fathers called the best gift god had given man with as much of

that gray book with the balance by fate to live and die a better man. with the greatest speech and as dr. king said his struggle would not end until justice rolls and righteousness? but the nation has honored the bible with more than the words of its leaders to the most sacred values and the highest ideals. rinaldi idea that all are created equal the nation of laws in the welcome in the tired in the port and the huddled masses learning to be free is the very essence of america. those ideas to be etched on

your iconic statues are not nearly the values of america but the of bible. is there a more fundamental expression of a quality that the biblical verses all are created in the image of god is there a more powerful example that no man is above the of lot and didn't the rebuke of king david? is there a more profound conception of social justice than the simple biblical commandments to care for the widow and of stranger? ladies and gentlemen, these values king david celebrated when he danced 3,000 years ago those values in the long march through the dark exile to give us the strength to

turn tragedy into triumph and restore sovereignty to rebuild jerusalem with the original d.c. of david's capital. was offered rejoice that has now come to the heart people will come from across your country and across the world to celebrate holidays and worship god and to discover and rediscover the bible and they may leave here with a renewed commitment to its values and a life that it demands made the bible continue to protect and guide america in unite your people as much as it has united mind to give this nation's strength to

continue to lead the world for generations and generations to come. [applause] >> it is our privilege to introduce the israeli minister of tourism who brings a message of friendship and community from prime minister that on the of food to commemorate the museum's opening in the opening of the israeli antiquities artifacts exhibit. please welcome. [applause] >> good morning. what a day and congratulations it is a great honor to attend the dedication and the museum of the bible that would put so much of the richness of the bible religious cultural and archaeological significance the government of israel is

proud to partner with the museum with this very important initiative to open the first and only permanent exhibition of the israeli authority outside the state of israel. i consider visiting the museum an important part of the experience i hope will conclude with a visit to israel, a place where all actually happened. no doubt that visiting the museum and enriching the knowledge is significant and i am privileged to convey to you a special message from benjamin netanyahu for this very special moment. >> dear friends isis and

warm greetings from jerusalem the undivided capital of the jewish people in the state of israel. for the reason of the museum of the bible and washington d.c. the jewish people are known as the people love the book because of the faith of history. our roots is described in the holy scripture stretching back nearly 4,000 years but only 7,000 years ago after millennial exile that we were finally able to reconstitute the nation's home. the hebrew spoken on the streets of israel today is still recognized by the same ancient language of the torah with the zionist

movement so this exhibit that it contains is a fitting home for the thousands of religious artifacts in the marvelous collection. by featuring jewish traditions the museum highlights our shared values as well as the history and development of the judeo-christian culture over the centuries. i wish you great success sincerely benjamin netanyahu [applause] >> ladies and gentleman please welcome author and philanthropist and educator the co-founder of the museum of the bible in their leader and chairman of the board and president of hobby lobby.

[applause] >> take a deep breath. [laughter] this is a journey that has been running fast seven years if we just want to take a moment to stop in celebrate and rejoice this dream coming true not just our dreams for our family stream but the dream of thousands of employees, workers, over 50,000 donors that millions all over the world that love this book using it as a guide for their life and what to take some time to celebrate and dedicate this base to our god. over the next many months and years with people coming

through this facility to celebrate being inspired to learn more about this book and know it better to have time with each one in this room just to discuss your thoughts and beliefs you will eventually find differences with everyone in the room because none of us have the book figured out. we're all living journey we will never believe doubt the depth of this book and that is the amazing part of this book but to take a moment to the differences aside to say here is a book that has changed lives and impacted our world into it to celebrate in this facility today so we honored to have you be a part of this phenomenal building that

points people to a book that has had such an impact on the world it is hard to describe or fully grasp people have no idea that the book is impacted their life hopefully they will come and see that bin to know that it has had a positive impact on their life in so many different ways. and when they leave to be inspired to open it to be engaged and get to know what better. let me ask a question. have you read your bible today? the would be doing my job if i did not encourage you to a engaged this book yourself if you have a smart phone you can download for free. pick a breeding plan and take a language and a engaged with this book would

it have an impact in your life as a as so many people all over the world because that is what we want to do is encourage and inspiring and engaged to motivate people to have an impact on their life. it is mine understanding belief in between you and a beautiful voice. so i will take care of that. god bless. [laughter] [applause] >> please welcome back. [applause] >> thank you. i am so honored and humbled am proud of the green family and everyone apart to bring this magnificent vision to reality.

my prayer is that when people hear about this museum and people get a chance to experience it they will fall in love with our heavenly father this is a prayer called let them fall in love. ♪ ♪ ♪

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[applause] >> please welcome back tony zeis. >> wow, cece. thank you so much for sharing that gift with us. you know, we're coming to the close, and i have to give some thanks to some people. there's so many people. the first thing i'm going to do is give a blanket thanks. if you had anything to do with this museum, i thank you for it. [laughter] [applause] i want to thank our stage guests for your participation, and i want to thank susan davis

international and all of her staff. they were absolutely wonderful in creating and preparing for all of these events this week. yeah, hold your applause, because we've got a number the go through. and then i want to thank our incredible museum staff. they're wonderful. and in just ten short months, we started with two or three people, and we now have about 170, we'll move to 190 people plus 150 volunteers, all put together, all trained, ready and excited about opening tomorrow to the public. i want to thank our corporate staff also for helping us open this extraordinary museum. thanks also to their spouses and the families who have made the many sacrifices the make in this day come true including my own wife beth who's sitting right here. thank you. you can applaud her. [applause] we give a big shout-out to our consulting scholars, our volunteers, our doe sents, and we know -- docents, we know we

couldn't live without them. want to thank the clark construction group led by brian and thanks to all our exhibit designers including the prd group, brc imagination art and coldwater media. we must also thank our exhibit installers and our curators who came from all over the world and our partners from all over the world who loaned exhibits to us. we offer a special thank to dan murphy and phillip brady and harry hargrave and to the city of washington, d.c., what a wonderful city this is. and its leaders, and its media and our peer museum leaders, they were so gracious in welcoming us to the district. well, we must also thank our 50,000-plus members and growing. if you're not a member, there's a hilt. . -- a hint. and donors in particular. we appreciate, of course, our largest donor family, that would

be the green family. that's worth a round of applause right there. [applause] i want to thank our corporate board of trustees, i want to thank its chair, steve green, and his wife jackie. i want to thank our ceo, kerry summers, for his visionary focus and his wife, also jackie. we're grateful for all the vice presidents of thehe corporation and the leaders and the staff of that entire organization. finally, i give a heart-felt thanks to my co-chair and all these grand opening events that we putnd together and worked had on. her name is linda. i want to thank her, i want to thank the committee members, also shannon bennett, sasha field and keilami. let's give them a round of applause. thank you so much. ms. i want you to know that it's not just people in the museum that are celebrating this

dedication. we had people across the nation celebrating the dedication. and many churches rang their bells at 11:17 on 11/17 in commemoration of this grand opening. thank them too. [applause] so now i'll ask the stage party, we're going to have a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the entrance down on the first floor, and then for the rest of us, you can join us if you want. i don't think there'll be enough room for everybodying but if you're hungry like most of us are, i want the people in the theater, if you would just go to the sixth floor, one floor up to the gathering room, we have a buffet foro you. and for those of you in the overflow, we have food tables on, i believe, floors three, four and five that you'll find very convenient for you right out of where you are at this moment. so with that, thank you so much for joining us today. god bless.

[applause] [inaudible conversations] >> you're watching booktv on c-span2 with top nonfiction books and authors every weekend. booktv, television for serious readers. >> and for the 20th year in a row, booktv is live from the miami book fair. it's held on the campus of miami-dade college in downtown miami. several author discussions, panels and live call-ins today and tomorrow. walter isakson, caser khan, chris matthews and nbc news' katie tour, her book is called unbelievable. it's about her