An unusual copy of the Bible began an unusual journey today.

The special leather-bound copy, measuring 12 by 18 inches, is written in 66 languages—one for each book. Its trip began at the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s spiritual convocation connected with the church’s Annual Council business session in Manila, Philippines. Church President Jan Paulsen handed it to Alberto C. Gulfan Jr., president of the church in Southern Asia-Pacific, the first stop of a global itinerary for rallies and marathon readings at villages, hospitals and universities.

The journey, an initiative planned since last year called “Follow the Bible,” is intended to rekindle in Adventists around the world the daily need for connection with the Bible. A recent survey of world membership found that 51 percent said they regularly studied the Bible.

The Bible will travel to six continents and culminate at the next world church congress in Atlanta, Georgia, United States in 2010.

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church must rediscover the value of reading this book,” Paulsen told some 12,000 people during Sabbath worship at Araneta Coliseum, site of the famed 1975 “Thrilla In Manila” bout between boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

“Too many of our own people do not spend time on a regular basis with this word and we suffer for it,” Paulsen said. “This is a commitment that we will make the Word of God more central in our lives.”

“This will be the most traveled Bible in the history of the world,” said Mark Finley, Adventist Church vice president for evangelism and personal witness.

Finley told the crowd that the special copy of the Bible features Genesis written in Spanish, Psalms in Chinese and Revelation in Korean. He said the book of Nehemiah is written in Tagalog, news which was received with applause from the Filipino audience.

The Bible will spend several months in the church’s Southern Asia-Pacific. In December, it will be sent to Seoul, South Korea and other cities throughout the church’s Northern Asia-Pacific region.

Web users will be able to follow the Bible’s journey at www.followthebiblesda.com. The site also offers other resources, including a guide to reading the Bible in one year.