YouVersion gathered leaders from major Christian organizations in Mexico City this week to announce new partnerships and highlight the Bible app's expansion across Latin America.
The meeting, held Tuesday (Aug. 18) at the Más Vida CDMX auditorium, included participation from organization executives, Banda Más Vida, The Chosen, The Bible Project, Alpha, and singer Fermín IV, who performed. Diario Cristiano Internacional, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition, was present at the event.
In 2007, YouVersion CEO Bobby Gruenewald had the idea at Chicago's airport to build a website for regular Bible reading — but it failed.
"That failure led us to try another idea: putting the site on a mobile phone, and that did work. In early 2008 we decided to build a Bible app when the App Store boom began. A 19-year-old boy was the one who helped us," Gruenewald said.
A Bible on the Phone
The YouVersion app is available in 2,300 languages and allows users to consult multiple Bible translations for free, listen to audio versions, follow reading plans and devotionals, and save, annotate, and share content.
Gruenewald told Diario Cristiano Internacional that more than 1 billion phones and tablets have downloaded the app and that more than 260 million accounts have been created.
"It took us 17 years to reach the first 1 billion devices. We believe the next billion will come in the next 5 years. There is a hunger for the Word of God at a global level," Gruenewald said.
The app allows users to download Bible versions for offline use, a feature that benefits people without consistent internet access.
"The app is designed for Catholic and evangelical people, and even for non-Christians. Many turn to it in times of desperation. We have seen that people going through divorces, and even those who have considered suicide, have downloaded YouVersion to look for solutions to their problems," Gruenewald said.
YouVersion's Vision
According to YouVersion, Mexico and Colombia rank among the top 10 countries in Latin America for app usage.
Since 2025, YouVersion has established a Hub in Mexico — a network connecting pastors, ministries, and content creators to share resources and build partnerships.
"God draws people to His Word every day, and it is a privilege to collaborate with so many churches and ministries. We are at the service of the global church," said Pablo Langlois, leader of the YouVersion Hub for Latin America.
Artificial Intelligence
YouVersion says it takes a cautious approach to artificial intelligence.
"We are very careful about the topic of Artificial Intelligence. It has helped us move faster in our processes, but we do not mix it with the use of the Bible, in order to maintain the trust and credibility of new generations," Gruenewald said.
He added that younger users are discerning about what they encounter online. "Generation Z has a hunger for the Word of God and for what is true," he said.
The Celebration
During the event, attendees heard testimonies from people who came to faith through the app. YouVersion also highlighted its alliance with the Sociedad Bíblica de México (Mexican Bible Society), citing its role in Bible translation.
The platform includes reading plans on topics such as faith, family, leadership, prayer, hope, youth, marriage, and the Christian life. Users can also highlight text, write personal notes, and share passages on social media.
Exclusive Interview
Christian Post Español, to whose group of brands Diario Cristiano Internacional and Christian Daily International belongs, spoke exclusively with Pablo Langlois about Latin America's growing digital Bible engagement. Watch the full interview in Spanish below.
