MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Four special days last week brought Murfreesboro a little closer together, thanks to the steady, heartfelt work of Greenhouse Ministries. Beginning May 6, 2026, the ministry kicked off its Annual Bible Reading Marathon, a round‑the‑clock tradition that turns scripture into a living, breathing relay of voices. Volunteers, church groups, civic clubs, and families took turns reading the Bible aloud—cover to cover—under the covered area at Greenhouse’s campus on South Academy Street.
If you’ve ever walked by during the marathon, you know the feeling. There’s a calmness to it, almost like a heartbeat. Someone is always reading. Someone is always listening. And someone is always being reminded that they’re not alone. The event reflects everything Greenhouse stands for: accessibility, dignity, community, and hope. Anyone can step up to the microphone, whether they’ve read publicly a hundred times or never at all. It’s simple, steady, and deeply human.
The momentum carried into Thursday morning, May 7, when Greenhouse hosted its Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at the MTSU Student Union Ballroom. The breakfast coincides with the National Day of Prayer, but here in Rutherford County, it takes on a distinctly local shape. Leaders from all four municipalities—Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, and Eagleville—joined the Rutherford County mayor for an hour of reflection and encouragement.
The atmosphere was exactly what longtime attendees have come to expect: warm, civic‑minded, and hopeful. Coffee cups clinked, neighbors greeted each other across tables, and the room settled into a shared sense of purpose before the workday began. Guests heard a welcome from leadership, a keynote message, prayers for schools and first responders, and reminders of the lives being changed through Greenhouse’s programs.
Both events highlight what Greenhouse Ministries has been doing for 27 years—serving people with dignity and strengthening the community right here at home. Their focus has never drifted beyond Rutherford County’s borders, and that’s by design. Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, and Eagleville are the heart of their mission.
A special thank‑you continues to go to co‑founders Cliff and Jane Sharp, whose joy and compassion remain as steady today as they were nearly three decades ago. Their vision still shapes every prayer, every reading, and every act of service that flows through Greenhouse Ministries.
Listen to interview
Greenhouse Ministry Executive Director Christy Sanford talked with WGNS' Bart Walker about the Bible Reading Marathon and the Mayors Prayer Breakfast. If you think that was exciting, listen to this and learn about new ways Greenhouse Ministries is being guided to help with needs in this community. You might want to be a part of helping others...
