Faith
YouVersion’s Global Reach Inspires New Caution
Faith Facts
- The YouVersion Bible App has surpassed 1 billion installs, expanding Scripture access in over 2,000 languages.
- Founder Bobby Gruenewald credits God’s providence for using technology to spread the Word, particularly among youth and the Global South.
- Gruenewald urges careful discernment as pastors and ministries experiment with AI, expressing concerns for trust and biblical fidelity.
Bobby Gruenewald, a visionary from Life.Church, transformed a simple airport idea into the world’s most influential digital Scripture tool. By committing his technological gifts to God’s service, Gruenewald helped millions encounter the Bible in their language, aided by the generosity of believers worldwide.
“What still feels most unbelievable is that God used a below-average Bible reader to build something that ended up on a billion devices. We had absolutely no idea what God was going to do.”
Global hubs now empower regional leaders to adapt YouVersion for local needs, reflecting how the church flourishes beyond Western borders. Young people, hungry for truth in a confusing online era, are increasingly turning to Scripture as a trustworthy anchor.
“There’s nothing else like the Bible. It’s been preserved and passed down accurately for millennia. When you stand in front of the Dead Sea Scrolls and see the consistency between those texts and what we read today, it builds trust.”
Gruenewald advocates that churches respect the limits of new technology, placing confidence in the timeless power of God’s Word rather than untested digital tools. He reminds Christians that the Bible, faithfully presented, breaks through every technological barrier to transform hearts.
Stand firm in your faith, safeguard biblical truth, and use technology as a servant, never a master, as we strive to build families and communities rooted in Christ.