When Don Ashley retired after 27 years in higher education, moved from Alaska to Arkansas and underwent serious surgery, he found stability through an extraordinary undertaking: handwriting the entire New Testament.
What began almost on a whim became a deeply personal devotional practice that carried Ashley through a season of enormous change.
“I had more of a mission to do this,” Ashley told CBN News’ Tré Goins-Phillips.
Ashley completed the project in eight months and 15 days, spending approximately 210 hours copying Scripture into a collection of journals. He generally aimed to write 30 verses each day, though he followed no rigid schedule.
“Sometimes it was the morning, sometimes I wrote late into the night,” Ashley said.
The seed for the project was planted in 2007, when Ashley viewed a display of the Dead Sea Scrolls at a Society of Biblical Literature meeting in San Diego. He was moved by the skill and dedication of the ancient scribes who produced documents that survived for thousands of years.
“I wanted to experience something about what the ancient scribes experienced,” he said.
Ashley used a fountain pen, which required less pressure on the page, and copied passages wherever he traveled. He wrote in cars, on airplanes and in hotel rooms, often using a Bible app on his phone.
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Although Ashley had studied and taught the New Testament for years, handwriting it forced him to slow down and pay closer attention.
“I’ve experienced the Bible with my mind for my whole career,” Ashley said. “But I wanted to experience it with my fingers.”
That slower pace helped him notice small details in familiar passages that he had previously overlooked. More importantly, the practice strengthened his relationship with God during a turbulent period.
“In all these life transitions, this really served as an anchor for my soul,” Ashley said.
His story unexpectedly resonated across social media. Ashley believes people are hungry for something more meaningful than endlessly consuming digital content.
“Instead of doom scrolling, maybe you could do something more useful with your time,” he said. “The world is so fast-paced now. Maybe it appeals to the idea of slowing down.”
Ashley emphasized that he did not begin the project to attract attention or create an impressive family heirloom.
“This is a devotional practice for God and me to strengthen that relationship,” he said.
After finishing the New Testament, Ashley did not put away his pen. He began handwriting the Psalms the following day, eager to encounter their expressions of despair, anger and joy in a more personal way.
His encouragement to other believers is simple: Begin with prayer, open God’s Word and start writing.
“A lot of people need an anchor for the soul,” Ashley said. “This is a great way to do that.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
