More than half a million students expected to take part in this year's 'Bring Your Bible to School Day'

More than half a million students across the U.S. are expected to take part in Focus on the Family's (FOTF) fourth annual "Bring Your Bible to School Day" on Oct. 5.

Candi Cushman, FOTF education analyst and spokesperson for the Bring Your Bible observance, said that the event presents an opportunity for students ranging from kindergarten to college to share their faith in Christ.

"We have some great stories from kids even as young as kindergarten taking their Bibles to school and just reading it out loud with their friends at recess," she told CBN News.

"There are thousands of students joining them across the nation and groups like Focus on the Family are standing behind them and praying for them," she added.

Cushman noted that this year's observance "comes at a time of brokenness for the nation,"

"We've all seen the headlines — from the hurricanes last month to the horrific tragedy in Las Vegas earlier this week," she told The Christian Post.

"In the midst of this brokenness, Christian students are equipped through this event to share encouraging Bible verses and point to the comfort that God brings in the midst of pain," she added.

"Bring Your Bible to School Day" was launched by FOTF in 2014 as a way for Christians to express their First Amendment rights.

Cushman said that students should not worry about violating any laws by bringing their Bibles to school.

She added that they can even have the Bible out on their desk and discuss scriptures with their classmates, as long as they are not disrupting instruction time and they are being respectful to their peers.

The campaign has seen tremendous growth over the past few years, with only 8,000 students participating in 2014, but immediately soaring to 155,000 in 2015. Last year, the event drew 356,000 participants.

In Kentucky, Gov. Matt Bevin has encouraged students in the state to take part in the program and use it as a starting point in a conversation with other students.

Bevin posted a video on Facebook to promote the event, noting that it is a student-led initiative.

"This is absolutely your right to do this, don't let anyone tell you otherwise," the governor said while urging students to bring their Bibles to school on Thursday.

FOTF President Jim Daly told The Christian Post in 2016 that religious freedom is a key component of the event. He believes that the reason for the program's exponential growth was due to the fact that it has been viewed by Christians as a positive and redemptive way to express their beliefs.

Daly said that the program might actually help school administrators feel at ease because they would not have to feel like they have to police the students all time when it comes to religious liberty issues.