News Archives - Page 162 of 225

2012-08-03

New at YouVersion.com and in the Bible App: Afrikaans and Czech

We recently launched two new languages, Afrikaans and Czech, inside the Bible App and at YouVersion.com. Together with British English, that means we’ve now launched nineteen different languages! Besides being able to choose from Bible versions in each of these languages, now you can select one of these languages for all of your menus, controls, and screen text—even find reading plans in each language. All you have to do is set the language on your device to the one you want, or select it from within your Bible App Settings. And at YouVersion.com, just choose from the list of languages at the bottom right. If you have friends who speak Afrikaans or Czech, please share this exciting news with them and on Facebook and Twitter.

Afrikaans

We’re pleased to offer Afrikaans on the Bible App for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), BlackBerry, and Java, and of course at YouVersion.com. We now have 14 reading plans in Afrikaans, as well as five different Bible versions. Three of those Bibles, Bybel vir almal (ABD07), the 1933/1953 Translation (AFR53), and Afrikaans 1983 Translation (AFR83) are generously provided by the Bible Society of South Africa. The other two, Die Boodskap (DB) and Nuwe Lewende Vertaling (NLV), are provided by key YouVersion partner Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy.

Czech

You can now choose Czech for your Bible App for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, and Bada, and at our website, YouVersion.com. We offer three Czech Bible versions: the classic Bible Kralická 1613 (CSBKR) and two popular modern versions, Bible 21 (B21) and Slovo na cestu (SNC). We’ve even added 25 reading plans in Czech!

Thanks to You…

YouVersion makes God’s Word available to as many people as we can, no matter what language they prefer. But we don’t have enough people resources to translate the Bible App’s tools and resources into every language. That vision is only made possible by an incredible worldwide community of translation volunteers—people just like you. These amazing YouVersion friends are passionate about using their gifts to see the Bible shared with the world. And of course, we never stop working to make the Bible App even better, so there’s always translation to do. If you can volunteer to translate into Afrikaans or Czech (or other languages), we’d love to hear from you. Please join us. You’ll be helping people all over the planet fall in love with God’s Word.

We asked a couple of our key volunteers in Afrikaans and Czech to tell you what it feels like to share their talents to help YouVersion reach the world. Here’s what they had to say:

Czech Language Volunteer Radek C.

“My dream and motivation is letting the Bible engage as many Czechs as possible, even though our country is called atheistic. I simply love being involved in projects which have a greater mission and impact than we can ever imagine. I have been a YouVersion volunteer for about one and a half years now. Volunteering was a new step into the world of the Bible, and the community simply engaged and connected me with new people. Even more than before, I feel now that God wants to use me in many various ways I can’t imagine now, but I put all of my trust into His hands and look forward to what’s next.”

—Radek Ć., Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

“I have been SO blessed through the use of the Bible App that I wanted to join such a great project as YouVersion! Becoming a member of the Afrikaans translation team was the next logical step for me to help further God’s kingdom.”

—Christo D., London, United Kingdom

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2012-07-27

First Time Ever: Experience the Bible App and YouVersion.com in Romanian

For the first time ever, now you can select Romanian as your language of choice at the YouVersion.com website, and inside the Bible App on several platforms: iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, Java, and bada. If you’ve already installed the Bible App on one of these platforms, all you have to do to start getting Romanian today is set it as the default language for your device. And if you have the most recent update of the Bible App on iOS or on Android, you can even pick Romanian from directly in your Bible App Settings!

Romanian is YouVersion’s sixteenth language launch. Before Romanian, we’ve offered releases in Spanish, German, French, Japanese, and Slovak, to name just a few. More than just menus and screens, we’re even adding 25 reading plans in Romanian! In the Bible App and at YouVersion.com, you’ll find Bibles in literally hundreds of languages—including three in Romanian. YouVersion’s mission is to make God’s Word available to as many people as possible, wherever they live and whatever language they prefer. And while Romania is home to almost 22 million people, Romanian speakers live literally all over the world. We’d love for them to share in the joy of experiencing the Bible in their heart language. If you have friends who love Romanian, would you let them know about YouVersion? You’re an important part of the YouVersion community. Every time you share God’s Word on Facebook and Twitter, you’re sharing YouVersion’s voice with the world.

How can we offer so many languages? It’s all because passionate volunteers generously share their gifts to constantly bring more languages to the YouVersion community around the world. They’re people just like you, excited about helping others experience God’s Word in languages they love. And with non stop updates and improvements to the Bible App and YouVersion.com, there’s always translation to do. If you’re fluent in English and another language—and you can translate between them—please prayerfully consider joining our global revolution of Bible engagement. For example, we have opportunities in many languages right now, especially in Arabic, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Your gifts can literally change people’s eternity!

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what one of our great Romanian language volunteers recently had to say about what it’s like to translate for the YouVersion community:

“God’s Word is worth spreading using all available tools, especially nowadays, when technology offers so many possibilities. I came across YouVersion in the right moment and did not hesitate to enroll and become part of it. As a result of volunteering with YouVersion, I have become more willing to work as much as possible for His Kingdom! My favorite part is when new challenges and projects come in…and there have been a lot ever since I joined!”
—Dragoslav S., Timişoara, Romania

2012-07-24

Appsfire Names the Bible App for iOS in Top 10

Out of every app available in the iTunes App Store, Appsfire recently listed the Bible App™ for iPad as its number three pick for best Non Game app overall, and the Bible App for iPhone as its number nine.

The iTunes App Store rankings are based solely on which apps have been downloaded the most, whereas the Appsfire rankings take into account a wider range of criteria, including user reviews, feedback, and social activity.

This kind of accomplishment is only possible because you, the YouVersion community, constantly uses the Bible App to engage with the Bible and share God’s Word with the people in your life. We’d like to thank Appsfire for the recognition, and even more, we’d like to thank YOU, the global YouVersion community for making it possible!

2012-06-14

YouVersion Bible App and Website Now in Slovak

For the first time ever, now you can select Slovak as your default language for the Bible App™ on several platforms, including iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, bada, and Java devices, as well as at YouVersion.com. If you’re already using the Bible App on a supported device, all you need to do is change your device’s default language to Slovak. And if you’re running the most recent version of the Bible App for iOS or Android, you can even select Slovak right from inside your Bible App Settings.

Slovak is YouVersion’s fifteenth major language update. Earlier releases included Korean, Spanish, Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, German, French, and Japanese, to name just a few. (That doesn’t even consider the nearly 150 different languages we offer Bibles in.) As part of this launch, we’re even adding 25 Reading Plans in Slovak. Please share this exciting news on Facebook, Twitter, and face-to-face with all of your friends who speak Slovak.

Have you ever wondered how YouVersion can offer so many different languages? It’s certainly not because we know all of these languages. We’re only able to do it because people just like you choose to serve the global YouVersion community with their gifts in translation. Even though the Bible App has so far been downloaded more than 55 million times, we’re only getting started. More and more new users join every day. Just imagine the impact you could make, literally worldwide, by translating just a few small parts of YouVersion—screens, buttons, menus, Reading Plans, and more! Learn how you can join us today at volunteer.youversion.com.

We asked one of our key Slovak language volunteers to share just a glimpse of what it can feel like to use your talents to help people all over the world fall in love with God’s Word:

“For a long time, I looked for some kind of service I would fit in doing. I wanted a background role, something I could do to help people get closer to God, but remain unknown (as opposed to speaking in front of a group of people). Online technology is one of my biggest hobbies, so when I found the opportunity to translate YouVersion’s mobile applications and website, that was ideal for me. When I joined a year and a half ago, I was welcomed more than warmly. It feels really good to work with the people of this community. I truly enjoy serving in this way.”
—Tomáš P., Bratislava, Slovakia

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2012-06-112012-06-11

The Top 10 Most Bookmarked Verses in the Worldwide YouVersion Community

It’s easier than ever to engage with God’s Word with the Bible App™ and YouVersion.com. Millions of people enjoy keeping track of their favorite verses with millions of Bookmarks. Save any verse so you can jump right back to it later, whether it’s for sharing with friends, to memorize, or just to read it again and again. Check out these top 10 Bookmarks from across the YouVersion community and see if your favorite made the list!*

Saving a bookmark is easy!

Here’s how you can learn to do it:

Visit our Help site.
Bottom: Select your language.
Left: Select your device type.
Look under “Notes, Bookmarks & Highlights.”

*When you save a bookmark, YouVersion saves it with the Bible version you’re using, but this top 10 list doesn’t reflect which versions were the most bookmarked. Through partnerships with our generous Bible publishing partners, YouVersion offers hundreds of versions in dozens of languages. We encourage everyone to explore several different versions to find the ones that help you best connect with the Bible. Just tap the current version to display a list of all your choices!