MANSFIELD, Ohio — The mission of BibleWalk began 35 years ago, a dream of Pastor Richard and Alwilda Diamond of the Diamond Hill Cathedral Church.
“We’ve had so many people come out and say, what is that I felt in there? It’s the power of the Holy Spirit,” said Julie Hardin, BibleWalk‘s director.
The experience gives visitors the chance to hear, walk through and experience the word of God from the Bible.
“When you read the written word, you are still dependent upon the holy spirit to enlighten that word to you. The Bible even says that. When you walk through these hallways, you feel the Holy Spirit, you definitely feel the love of God,” said Hardin.
Hardin said she can still remember talking to a friend at 17 years old about being born again — it was at that time she felt a call to service from the church.
“The conviction of sin, even though I was doing drugs and a lot of wrong things, that didn’t resonate in me. What resonated with me is that he had said to me, you can be born again. That’s what brought me to the cross,” said Hardin.
Hardin met her colleague Diane Reed when she was a teenager.
The two have worked together for decades. Reed is the curator of the museum’s seven tours of the Old and New Testament as well as a recent addition, the museum of woodcarving.
“All done by one gentleman, Joseph Barta, and it took him a total of 30 years to do all of these,” said Reed. “He quit everything he was involved in and he literally devoted his life to the completion of this God-given task.”
“Heard a minister say one time, she said, when you possess the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God possesses you,” said Hardin.
Hardin says the best part of her job is seeing people from all walks of life, from across the world, come to visit the BibleWalk museum and share a collective experience in Christ.
“We see more people that want prayer, that just want to sit and talk, that wanted a hug, that wanted a handshake. So once you come to BibleWalk you aren’t forgotten. You will never know how much you’re going to be prayed for in the future,” said Hardin.
BibleWalk is located on the campus of Diamond Hill Cathedral, 500 Tingley Avenue in Mansfield.
