Editor's Note: CNN's Katie Glaeser brings us this report.
Can your cell bring you closer to God?
Oklahoma based LifeChurch.tv thinks so. Tuesday the church announced more than ten million smartphone users worldwide have downloaded its free Bible application. LifeChurch hopes by having a copy handy, people will be more likely to read scripture.
The app, which is based on the church-funded website, YouVersion.com, launched in July of 2008. Since then, users have spent 3.5 billion minutes trolling through Bible passages. Yes- that was billion.
During a webcast on YouVersion.com, pastor Bobby Gruenewald announced what he called a "revolution"� taking place.
"Could this be the generation that's more engaged with God than any other generation in history?"� he asked.
YouVersion's mission is to make God's word more accessible and they seem to have done just that with their pocket-sized psalms.
Tuesday, Gruenewald declared a challenge. He wants his app's users to generate one billion minutes of Bible reading during January.
"We really believe if God's words can be part of our everyday life"� that in itself will transform lives."�
Enhancements are expected to roll out over the next few months on the mobile app. Users will soon be able to keep journals, highlight passages, and take part in reading programs broken down by topics of interest. The LifeChurch app is available on Apple, Android, BlackBerry and Palm platforms.
If this is what they want to do, good for them.
It might be good for you too.
Not if you don't believe the way they do John.
Hi Lucifer – Hmm... then you write that you're the Father of Lies in "your own book". If you wanted to outright deceive, why did you make yourself out to be a total tool in your own book?
The Bible is overated just like the Koran and the Tora. Some good information for sure but plenty of stuff meant to divide US from eachother rather than bring us together. If I had a vote I would say god only had about 15% input in to these holy texts. I think humans need something a little more unifying and rooted in the scientific realities that we all know now. I believe that science and religion can be viewed as one easily supporting each other.
I'm not interested in reading fiction so no need to download the Bible, Koran or any other religious app.
You know at least 3/4 of people who downloaded this did nothing more than that. Just silly cafeteria christians looking for a new easy way to avoid hell.
Some people are so judgemental.
You are so wrong! Why would anyone download an app they're not going to use? Maybe you do useless time consuming things because you have nothing better to do, but the rest of us are not going to take the time to download this app and not use it. Besides they update this app at least once a month, so who would download this app, not use it and watch the "update app" indicator display the number of updates needed. People hate looking at the "update app"� number, so if they don't use the app then they will delete it.
I will tell why we download this app. Most of us who use this app is to at least get one scripture that gives us wisdom and inspiration to keep us going and also giving us a good purpose of living. Now you can criticize whatever you'd like, but those of us who downloaded it have benefited big time. You might as well take advantage of it. that is my best suggestion to you my friend.
If u read the whole artical, the app has gotten 3.5 Billion hours of use. That doesn't sound like people not using it.
Tina blithered – "Some people are so judgemental.(sic)"
And religious hypocrites are usually at the top of that list.
Is the App called Morality for Dummies ?
The comment of the week!!!!
Yeah morality alright...genocide, infanticide etc etc....
No its called immortality for heathens like you.
Good one! LOL!
more like, let's bring it back to the stone age book.. stones will have a usage as they did.. cracking some skulls... God loves stoning...
Exactly where do you get your morality maximusvad?From man's twisted and constantly changing sense of good and evil?Indeed it is very good and just of God to punish evil. Do good parents let their children do whatever they want without consequence?
@Justin, "From man's twisted and constantly changing sense of good and evil?" Now I`m pretty sure you didnt read the bible, because God changed his mind many times, one day he kills children the other day he loves them...that explains why so many of them die of hunger and cancer everyday...
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