Popular ministry organization YouVersion said its Bible app saw significant growth around the world in 2024 as users showed a “growing hunger for God's Word” and used the prayer feature in record numbers. YouVersion also revealed the poems that garnered the most attention this year. Created by Life.Church, YouVersion offers several free apps, including Bible App, Bible App Lite, and Bible App for Kids. Collectively, they are installed on more than 875 million devices worldwide.
In 2024, YouVersion had an average of 11.2 million new device installations per month and approximately 14 million users using the Bible daily. According to YouVersion, this year was a record year for app installs and daily usage.
The fastest growing regions were Central Africa, East Africa, and Latin America.
“This significant growth demonstrates a growing thirst for God's Word,” YouVersion said in a news release.
In Africa, engagement with the daily Bible on the YouVersion app is higher than South Sudan (82 percent), Angola (68 percent), Mozambique (55 percent), Guinea (50 percent), Nigeria (35 percent), and Algeria (35 percent). ) has increased significantly. . In Latin America, the top growing countries were Nicaragua (107%), Venezuela (74%), Bolivia (52%), Honduras (50%), Cuba (45%), and Argentina (30%). Approximately 1 million Brazilians use Bible apps every day.
“It's heartening to see people in the YouVersion community engaging with the Bible at such a high level in any part of the world,” said Bobby Gruenewald, Founder and CEO of YouVersion. “These trends in engagement with the Bible highlight commonalities across the global church, including the struggles we face and our need for God.”
Meanwhile, usage of YouVersion's prayer feature increased by 46% in 2024. A news release said the prayer feature allows users to “connect people with God by sharing prayers with friends, showing others you've prayed for, and completing guided prayer sessions.” It is stated that. The Bible and prayer prompt you. ”
“Throughout 2024, we saw an increase in the number of people dedicating themselves to prayer day and night in different countries around the world,” said Carla Harding, International Director of Product for 24-7 Prayer International, YouVersion’s global partner. says. “Our hope is that through unceasing prayer, the global church will be on fire before God and communicate God's love with greater mercy and power to the communities around it.”
The Bible verses that experienced the highest levels of participation were YouVersion's verses of the year. Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in all circumstances, by prayer and supplication, present your requests to God, with thanksgiving.”
“Often, our anxiety comes from worrying about things we shouldn't have,” says Gruenewald. “For me, this most searched verse of the year shows that our community is choosing to seek God in prayer and trust Him to carry our burdens; You can see that it's backed up by the data.”
Last year's “Poem of the Year” was Isaiah 41:10“Fear not therefore, for I am with you; do not be discouraged; for I am your God; I will strengthen you, and will help you; and with my righteous right hand I will uphold you.” It was also selected as the poem of the year 2022.
Photo courtesy: ©YouVersion press
michael faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His articles have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star, and Knoxville News Sentinel.
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