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Church Online Platform is joining YouVersion!

…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith… - Ephesians 4:12-13

In 2007, Life.Church launched YouVersion to help people engage with God’s Word every day. In 2016, we updated our YouVersion Events feature to bring the power of the Bible App into your church services.

Even before we started YouVersion, in 2006 Life.Church created the very first church online experience, to reach people outside our physical church walls. When we saw how God moved through this technology, we began freely sharing our Church Online Platform to empower any church with the same ministry opportunity.

Recently, we began asking ourselves, “What Kingdom impact could we see if these two teams at Life.Church joined together as one?”

Youversion + Church Online Platform

Preparing for the future of Church.

We recently posted a video from YouVersion’s founder, Pastor Bobby Gruenewald, describing what we believe to be the future of church—an integrated digital and physical experience that people will participate in throughout their week. Combining these two digital ministry teams allows us to further equip the Church to engage with people from physical to digital experiences … and back again. Our goal is to provide the global Church with content and tools to create experiences that lead people into deeper intimacy with God every day of the week—not just on Sundays.

What does this mean for YouVersion, for Church Online Platform, and for you?

We have several new features already in development, with many additional projects in various planning stages. While we don’t have any specifics to share today, we invite you to dream with us: imagine one day in the near future where more YouVersion resources are inside of Church Online Platform, more Church Online Platform functionality is inside of YouVersion, and new digital tools will help bridge the ministry gap for this new hybrid church model. As we build this new functionality, YouVersion Events will continue to work as normal.

With this expanded vision, we’re also increasing our financial commitment, investing in even more resources for the global Church. And of course, through Open Network, Life.Church will continue providing the same ministry resources that we always have—and all for free—because we believe the local church is the hope of the world.

Dream with us about the future, and let’s bring God’s Kingdom to earth, together.

Would you pray with us that God continues to unite His people all over the world? May He guide and direct us all, equipping His Church to fulfill His will.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

EPHESIANS 3:20-21

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For anyone feeling alone, this is for you…

Person walking in desert

You are not alone.

Right now, many of us are navigating how we can re-establish connections with friends and family we haven’t seen in a while.

This process takes time, and it can seem frustrating. But even when we feel alone and disconnected, we can seek connection with God through prayer, and ask Him to help us reconnect with the people around us.

God is always with us, and He loves it when we seek out honest conversations with Him.

A Prayer for Connection

God, for many of us, this past year was filled with isolation. Despite technological advances, we watched relationships change and drift apart—and we grieved the loss.

But God, we know You can redeem what’s broken. You care about community, and You created us for connection. And, You also gave us Your Holy Spirit who understands what we are facing and prays on our behalf. So when we feel alone, please remind us that You are near—and that You’re not done working.

Re-establish our relationships and show us how to make meaningful connections—even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Ultimately, we want our loneliness to lead us closer to You and to the people that You’ve called us to love and support. So take our isolation, our disconnection, our social anxiety, and our fear—and turn it into something beautiful that draws the world closer to You and to each other.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Save Prayer

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How To Pray for Your Family

Family Week

This week, we shared resources for your family that we hope encouraged and inspired you. But this is only the beginning. As you continue to faithfully show up and show love, God will do infinitely more in your family than all that you can ask, hope, or imagine.

To help encourage you as you continue to lead your family, we’ve created four prayers for families. Pick a prayer that relates to your situation, pray it over your relationships, and save it to your Prayer List in the Bible App.

Pray now:

A Prayer for Families with Young Children

God, children are a gift from You, but raising them is still hard. So when I feel exhausted and weary, please remind me that You are with me. And when I feel overwhelmed, please give me the strength to endure every situation I face. You have called me to parenthood, so please protect my family, and help me to raise my children well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Save to Prayer List

A Prayer for Families with Teenagers

God, show me how to love my teenagers the way You do. As they start to become more independent, give me discernment. And as they navigate big emotions, help me to be sensitive to their feelings and wise with my responses. Shape them into the people You’ve created them to be and, as You do that, please guard their hearts. Let their identity remain rooted and grounded in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Save to Prayer List

A Prayer for Families with Adult Children

God, give me wisdom when navigating relationships with my adult children. Before I speak, let me first pause and listen to them. And when I want to fix their problems, let me first call out to You. Protect, establish, and help these adults become the people You’ve called them to be. And as You do that, show me how to meet them where they are. I trust You, and I entrust my children to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Save to Prayer List

A Prayer for Blended Families

God, You know exactly what our family needs in order to thrive. You understand how hard it is to combine two families, but You also know how rewarding it can be. As we figure out how to lead this family together, please protect our marriage, and help us create meaningful bonds with all our children. Guide us and protect us, and draw us closer to You—and to each other. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Save to Prayer List

Set Prayer Reminders

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Resources for Your Family

Family Week

Every day, you are faced with new opportunities to lead your family spiritually through intentional conversations and activities.

This isn’t always easy, but your commitment to your family’s spiritual growth will have a lasting impact. And as you faithfully pour into the lives of the people you love, we want to pour into you.

Here are some resources we’ve created that you can turn to for encouragement and support.

When you need ideas for
family time…

Family Week

Read Post

When you want to help your family
enjoy God’s Word…

Family Week

Read Post

When you need to speak life
over your family…

Family Week

Read Post

When you need activities to try
with your kids…

Family Week

Read Post

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It’s Family Week!

Family Week

How do you lead your family?

We all want our children to become adults who are healthy, happy, and seeking Jesus daily. But how do we start our children off on a path that encourages them to draw near to God every day?

We seek God with them.

Doing this isn’t always easy. Not only are we faced with busy schedules, we’re faced with a busy world trying to influence our priorities. That’s why we created Family Week.

When you feel overwhelmed or discouraged, we want to help you remember that you are not raising your family alone. There are people and resources you can turn to for support. This week, we’ll be providing resources, prayers and plans to encourage you as you lead your family.

Today, complete one of the following Bible Plans as a family, and create a habit of seeking God together.

Find More Plans