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America’s Top Football Players Use the Bible App

The biggest day in American sports is here, and the Bible App is part of the conversation for players on both sides of the field.

We had a special opportunity, thanks to 1615.tv, to talk with several players who are competing in the big game today. Like so many of you, their love for God’s Word has grown by being able to read the Bible anytime, anywhere with the Bible App. Whether it’s sharing the Verse of the Day, adding bookmarks, or listening to audio Bibles, these players are an active part of the global community of people seeking God through His Word.

 

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5 Million Bible Plans Completed!

YouVersion first launched Reading Plans in 2009, and since then people have used the Bible App to complete 5 million Plans! Whether you like to read, listen, or watch your daily selection, Bible Plans make it easier than ever to spend meaningful time in God’s Word. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing all over the world through the Bible App!

Making Plans Work for You

People who complete their Bible Plans sometimes get a little help along the way from these handy features. Just go to your plan’s Settings (the gear icon) and look for these useful tools:

  • Catch Me Up. Falling behind? In your plan’s Settings, tap Catch Me Up to shift your start and end dates. Your last fully completed day becomes yesterday. If you have partially completed days, those unfinished selections will remain unchecked.
  • Reminders. Have the Bible App remind you when it’s time to read. In your plan’s Settings, set Reminder to On and specify the time of day you’d like to be reminded. At the time you set, the Bible App pops up a handy reminder.
  • Email Delivery. Get your daily selections delivered to your inbox. In your plan’s Settings, set Email Delivery to On and select the time of day you’d like to receive your daily selection, along with which Bible version you’d like. The Bible App sends it to the email address you specified for your free YouVersion account.

For even more tips and tricks, be sure to check out YouVersion’s Support website!

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The Bible App Now in Finnish and Vietnamese

The Bible App™ now in Finnish and VietnameseWith today’s announcement of the addition of Finnish and Vietnamese, YouVersion is now offering the Bible App in twenty-five languages. This includes not only Bible versions, but all of the menus, settings, and even reading plans. Simply select your desired language from the Bible App’s Settings, or set the language on your device. If you enjoy using the Bible App at YouVersion.com, you can choose from the list of languages at the bottom right. Whether you speak Finnish or Vietnamese, or you have friends who do, please help us spread the word on Facebook and Twitter!

Finnish

You can choose Finnish (Suomi) right now for your Bible App for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, or at YouVersion.com. (Finnish is also coming soon to the Bible App for Windows Phone!) We offer four Finnish Bible versions: the contemporary Kirkkoraamattu 1992 (KR92) and the traditional Kirkkoraamattu 1933/38 (KINB38), both provided by the Finnish Bible Society, and the Finnish 1776 (FI1776) and Finnish 1938 (FINPR). Also, be sure you check out one of our 25 reading plans in Finnish!

Vietnamese

We’re also pleased to now offer Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) on the Bible App for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, BlackBerry, and at YouVersion.com. Look for any of our 25 reading plans in Vietnamese, as well as four different Bible versions. The Revised Vietnamese Version Bible (RVV11) is provided from the United Bible Societies, the modern Thánh Kinh: Bản Phổ thông™ (BPT) comes from the World Bible Translation Center, and the Ban Dich 2011 (BD2011) from the Rev. Bau Dang. You’ll even find the classic 1934 Vietnamese Bible (VI1934).

Because of You

The only way that YouVersion can make God’s Word available to as many people as we do, and in their own heart languages, is through the passionate work of a worldwide community of translation volunteers. These are people just like you who use their gifts to translate menus, settings, screens, and other key text so they can take part in seeing the Bible shared with the world. We never stop improving the Bible App, so there’s always more translation to do. If you can volunteer to translate into Finnish or Vietnamese (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 Finnish and Vietnamese to share with you about why they love working with YouVersion to reach the world. Here’s what they had to say:

YouVersion Finnish language volunteer Juho A. (l) with YouVersion Global Partnership and Community Pastor Brian Russell (r)

“YouVersion translation felt like a natural way for me to contribute to the ministry. Serving others by using my native language (that I’m quite passionate about!) gives me great pleasure. I’m so grateful for the awesome fellowship that we have due to working together in the name of Christ.”
—Juho A., Espoo, Finland

YouVersion Vietnamese language volunteer Tien L.

“I decided to volunteer for YouVersion because I had always been called to the ministry of language translation. What an amazing way to help bring God’s Word to people in my country! Thanks to my experiences volunteering, I’ve come to realize that I did not truly appreciate the abilities and assets God has given me until I used them to serve Him. All glory be to the Lord!”
—Tien L., San Antonio, Texas, U.S.

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Bible.com joins the YouVersion family!

The YouVersion family is growing! Today we’re thrilled to share with you the addition of Bible.com. Starting this month, visiting Bible.com will bring you directly to YouVersion’s free online Bible.

Now everybody can find the same simple, ad-free experience already loved by millions—at the Internet’s best domain for the Bible! We’re happy to welcome everyone who’s already part of the Bible.com community, as well as the many people searching for God’s Word online.

Bible.com now provides the same rich Bible experience as YouVersion.com and the Bible App:

  • Read the Bible: Instantly select from nearly 300 versions (including audio!), compare versions side by side, and choose the font and display size.
  • Study the Bible: Easily add notes, bookmarks, and highlights to personalize and learn from your interaction with Scripture.
  • Subscribe to Reading Plans: Cover the whole Bible, focus on a specific topic you’re interested in, or read a rich devotional from a gifted teacher. Choose your favorite plan, and each day, a fresh Bible selection will be ready and waiting for you.
  • Sync with the Bible App: All of your bookmarks, notes, plans, and progress now sync between the Bible App, YouVersion.com, and Bible.com.
  • Enjoy the Bible in many languages: Not only can you select a Bible in any of 140 languages, you can even choose to display the site’s menus and buttons in your choice of 30 languages.

Together, Bible.com and YouVersion now offer a simple, unified Bible experience that keeps Scripture always within easy reach. Whether you searching for “Bible” in an app store or, now, online, you’re always just one short click away from engaging with God’s Word.

Best of all, welcoming Bible.com into our worldwide YouVersion community introduces even more opportunities for you to help people find their way around and enjoy a meaningful Bible experience. Won’t you join us?

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God’s Word Shapes Our Lives

As Christ-followers we recognize how important it is to know—and live—God’s Word. We also recognize how difficult that can be sometimes. Scripture is full of tough commands:

  • Love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:31)
  • Take up your cross and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
  • Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
  • Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)

Fortunately, as we study the Bible and begin to internalize it more and more, one of God’s promises comes to life:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2

In other words, as we spend time in conversation with God through the study of Scripture, we experience transformation: change that compels us—and equips us—to actually live the words. We’re encouraged to hear how YouVersion is making the Bible more accessible to people across the world, allowing them to connect with God’s Word and experience that transformation.

“Love driving home and being able to just listen to the Bible. It’s refreshing to hear, and it brings new light.”
– Ronnie

“I love my @YouVersion reading plans. I find myself so happy and excited to read. I’ve also found my life to be more calm and understanding.”
– Tiffy

“Thank you for the Bible in 1 Year plan! It got me into a great habit, and it’s strengthening my relationship with God.”
– Emily

“I thank God for this resource. It has allowed me to study and hear The Word more often and more clearly. I am truly growing through using @YouVersion.”
– Ingrid

What about you? Are you working through a YouVersion Reading Plan that’s affecting your worldview? Have people noticed a change in you since you’ve been engaged more with God’s Word? We would love to hear your story!