International (MNN) — YouVersion recently hit a mind-blowing milestone its creators never could have imagined when it launched 17 years ago: one BILLION downloads of the YouVersion Bible app.
Bibles for China’s Kurt Rovenstine attended the YouVersion celebration Monday in Oklahoma City. He says, “It was a reminder to us — as a ministry that works in Bible distribution — of the importance of Bible distribution.
“It celebrated the growing desire for people to find truth and that people are searching for truth – and the Bible is a place where they’re going to find that.”
(Photo courtesy of Brooke Cagle/Unsplash)
The ceremony highlighted testimonies of individuals coming to faith through Scripture accessed digitally.
Yet, Rovenstine also underscores the reality that not everyone has access to the Bible. In China where his ministry serves, Bible apps can be controlled.
“The digital piece is a challenge, and YouVersion in most parts of China is probably not available,” says Rovenstine.
“So part of that encouragement at that celebration was also a reminder that online and digital is great, but it also can be restricted. If you don’t have it physically, it may not be available. So we’re reminded that whereas the Bible is very accessible and desired by many, it’s still a challenge.”
Pray that the one billion YouVersion downloads will result in one billion transformed lives. Pray also that more people in China and around the world get their hands on God’s Word.
Header photo: YouVersion Bible app (Photo courtesy of Priscilla du Preez/Unsplash)
