Category: Stories

2020-02-172020-02-10

Has YouVersion helped you find intimacy with God?

What's Your Story?

Your story about growing closer to God could be the very thing He uses to draw someone else to Him. Just look at what Brenda shared with us:

“I had been a Christian for almost 20 years. 10 years ago, God revealed what was missing from my walk with Him: intimacy.”

“I didn’t know the God I believed in. Wife, mom, business owner — because I wasn’t spending time with God, people were getting ‘weak me, impatient me, tired me.’

Woman using laptop while drinking cofee

Woman praying

“I prayed, ‘Lord, change my priorities. Be first in my life.’ Discipline became my word for 2018. (I’m spontaneous! I hate discipline!) But YouVersion made it easy.

Woman holding phone

“Now I start most days at 6:30 a.m. with ‘a date with God.’ I love YouVersion — the Plans, the reminders, Streaks — I love it all! Every aspect of my life changed when He became first: how I parent, how I love my husband, how I run my business.

“God used YouVersion to fulfill the dream of discipline in my life. Thank you!”

Your story matters.
Share it with us!

Tell us, specifically, how using YouVersion has helped you find intimacy with God. What did your life look like before you had the YouVersion Bible App? What’s different now? Share your story with us below, and let God use the power of your testimony to build His Kingdom.*

2019-12-152019-12-11

Here’s how to make sure your charitable giving has the biggest impact this year.

This is personal.

Remember when you first realized that God actually loved you? That he wanted a relationship with you? Moments like those are why we’re so passionate about helping people connect with God.

I grew up in church, but I didn’t really know or love God. When my grandfather died, I felt deep sorrow and depression… and even thought about committing suicide. My friend sent me a link to Joshua 1:9. I decided to download the app because of that verse. I tried a devotion, which helped me understand God and led me closer to Him. One day I was reading in Psalms, and I felt Jesus calling me: this overwhelming, reckless love pursuing me. I prayed with my pastor, and a huge weight lifted. Jesus changed my life. Now I love the Lord and serve him daily. Thank You, Jesus!

NATHAN, ALABAMA, USA

When you give to YouVersion, you’re making an investment that has an eternal return: transformed lives.

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Woman on phone

This is historic.

Reading or listening to God’s Word has the power to change lives. We’re leveraging technology to help this generation become the most Bible-engaged in history. When you give to YouVersion, you help us get Scripture to more people than ever, in places like India, Poland, Guatemala, and Nigeria. People like Hazel:

I had been bullied for years, and I was dealing with a heartbreak. I didn’t want to be left alone with my thoughts. One day I opened YouVersion and read the Verse of the Day. It was the perfect word of encouragement, so it became a habit. Every day I would start with Verse of the Day, then read the chapter the verse came from, then find myself in the middle of a story. I watched David remove Saul’s armor and pick up his own slingshot. I walked through the palace with Esther. I wept with Hannah. I could see myself in their imperfections and flaws. God used YouVersion to make His word come alive to me. YouVersion has changed my life, from the Verse of the Day to Plans.

HAZEL, NIGERIA, AFRICA

What would happen if every person on earth could instantly engage with God’s Word in their own language? Let’s find out, together.

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Woman texting on phone

This is what matters.

All over the world, more and more people are turning to God’s Word to hear what He wants to say to them. When you give to YouVersion, you’re helping us connect them with Him. Every one of those people has a name, has a story. Like Nathan. Like Hazel. Like Jenny:

Things were not good in my marriage. I was on a downward spiral, at the beginning of an emotional affair. I gathered the courage to send him ‘the’ text: the one that would change our relationship from friends to lines-being-crossed. I was terrified, typing what I knew could end my marriage. But the Holy Spirit was fighting for me. The word TEMPTATION flashed before my eyes. I didn’t know what to do, so I pulled up YouVersion and typed ‘temptation’ in the search field. As I read every verse the app showed me, the tears fell. I called on Jesus’ name, and the devil fled. I erased that text and ended the conversation. If I had not had the Bible App that day, I don’t know what would have happened. Thank you for always having His word so close!

JENNY, COLORADO, USA*

In 2008, we launched YouVersion with just 15 Bibles, in two languages. Now, thanks to the generosity of visionary partners — and the financial support of people just like you — we’re privileged to offer more than 2,000 versions, with content in over 1,300 languages.

Don’t miss this.

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“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.”

Notes

* Name and location changed, to protect privacy.

2019-12-042019-11-26

2019 in Review:

2019

Going Deeper,
Drawing Closer.

Think back on the struggles and victories you’ve experienced this year. How did God reveal Himself to you in those moments?

We’re excited about all that God will do through YouVersion in 2020. (Stay tuned: Big things are coming!) But for now, let’s take a moment to reflect back on just some of the powerful ways God worked in our global YouVersion Community during 2019:

Relationships
Restored

Mfon – Nigeria

Mfon’s marriage was in shambles, so she ran away from it. Then on the bus to work each day, Mfon started reading Bible Plans about marriage in the Bible App. As Mfon studied God’s Word, her heart began to soften, and she realized there was still hope for her marriage. Inspired by God’s Word, Mfon reconciled with her husband.

…But Mfon’s story doesn’t end there…

One day, a woman who often sat behind her on the bus approached Mfon and confided that she had been reading the Bible App over Mfon’s shoulder. This woman had also been struggling in her marriage, but one of Mfon’s Plans had resonated with her, and she had forgiven her husband. Because of Mfon’s decision to read Bible Plans, two marriages are now experiencing restoration.

Mfon’s story is powerful, but it’s just one of many. Every Plan Day completed this year represents a life that God is in the process of transforming:

1.1	Billion

Plan Days completed in 2019.

Losing Sight… and Finding Sound

Alice – United States

In 2014, Alice was diagnosed with early-onset macular degeneration and declared legally blind. No longer able to read, Alice had to find another way to draw closer to God. She discovered that in the right light, she could use a tablet. And that’s when Alice found audio Bibles on YouVersion. She started listening every night. And the more Alice listened, the more God’s Word came alive for her, leading her to a deeper understanding of God.

Now Alice believes the Bible should be heard. And fortunately, audio Bibles make it easy to hear God’s Word — anytime, anywhere.

5.6	Billion

Audio Chapters played in 2019.

How can we wrap our minds around giant numbers like the ones below? By recognizing what they actually represent: moments when people reached out to God, and He touched their hearts. Let’s celebrate and commit to finishing 2019 strong!

35.6 Billion

Bible Chapters Read

2 Billion

Highlights, Bookmarks, and Notes

478 Million

Verses Shared

Bible Engagement
Increase by Country:

Bible engagement map with increases by country

These countries showed the greatest increase in Bible engagement during 2019.

2019 Verse of the Year:

Philippians 4:6

The Bible verse shared, bookmarked, and highlighted most often by the global YouVersion Community.

Most Shared Verse Image by Language:


Filipino	Spanish	Korean
Ephesians 4:26	Psalm 56:3	Isaiah 40:31

Japanese	Italian	German
1 Peter 4:8	1 Corinthians 13:13	John 11:25

English	Dutch	Chinese
Psalms 103:13	1 Corinthians 13:4	Psalms 46:1

The Bible Verse Images shared most often during 2019 by language across the global YouVersion Community.

Discover Your Story

We all have a story to tell.

See how you drew closer to God through the YouVersion Bible App this year — with a personalized 2019 Bible App Snapshot!

Let’s rejoice over what God’s doing in your life:

View Snapshot