Category: Share your Faith

on • Jenny Steinbach

You’ll love this story. We all long to have great devotions with our children, and women’s comforting voices make all the difference.

Eva, a busy mom, recently shared her encouraging experience with us. She and her son, Jonny, have been listening to her.BIBLE together every night for the past four years. Jonny is now 10 years old, and this nightly routine has led to more than just bedtime stories; it has sparked deep, thought-provoking conversations and spiritual growth.

They typically listen to one chapter a night, and he likes to follow along with the highlighted words as he listens. Then she simply asks if he has any thoughts or questions.

It’s a nightly ritual that is easy on his mom, brings them closer, and fosters a love for learning about God’s Word. As a result of these special times together in the Scriptures, remarkable changes have already taken place in his life:

Generosity Unleashed: Jonny feels compelled to give back. He has donated his entire allowance (instead of a few pennies) to help provide meals for those in need, which stems directly from what he has heard in the parables.

Compassion in Action: Their conversations about God’s love and forgiveness built strength of character. After being bullied by a fellow classmate, Jonny prayed for the child, who had been unkind. His understanding of empathy and forgiveness deepens through these kinds of conversations, and he did not allow the other student to make him feel “less than.”

Growth in Faith: They engage in discussions about challenging passages in the Bible, such as why Jesus sent demons into pigs, washed the feet of His disciples and who is the Holy Spirit.

You made this story possible. When a woman is empowered with God’s Word, she makes a profound impact on her family and community.

And, today, we ask you to stand with us to reach more people, like Eva.

In 2023, more and more people have found her.BIBLE! We ended 2022 with 11,258 active users of our app and website.

This year YouVersion uploaded the complete Bible and began sharing results. There are now 243,233 people listening to God’s Word through the her.BIBLE app, website, and YouVersion. You are helping every one of these listeners to grow in their faith.

Our partnerships are deepening with more organizations that are also passionate about God’s Word getting to people in their heart languages. People are reaching out for language coaching from some African countries.

This year, we’re asking you to stand with us as we seek to reach more people who long for the Word of God. We have great news to share with you.

A generous listener has pledged a matching gift of $30,000. Every dollar you contribute will be doubled, allowing us to make an even greater impact.

Your gift of any amount can help expose thousands of people around the world to her.BIBLE. As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to join us in this kingdom work.

Your financial contributions, now matched, will help reach even more families like Eva’s and begin the recording of more audio Bibles in women’s voices.

This matching gift opportunity spans from today until December 27, 2023.

To donate, you can give at give.cru.org/0967201 or scan this QR code.

Thank you for investing in this incredible journey. Your prayers and generosity make a profound difference.

on • Candice Zakariya

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ (Romans 10:17).

When it comes to reading the Bible, we know it’s a great idea to do it daily to grow in Christ. But sometimes, life gets in the way, or we don’t make time for it. If you’re like me, you start strong with a plan to read the Bible every day, but something happens, and you miss a day—or two or three.

But don’t give up! It’s always possible to start again. In fact, why not start right now?

I’m going to share with you five tips for creating a Bible listening plan that has worked for me, and maybe it will work for you, too:

1. Pick a translation that you will understand. The her.BIBLE app is in the New Living Translation, which is very familiar and easy to understand.

2. Set aside time each day for listening. Whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, try to find a time each day to sit down and focus on meeting with God in His Word.

3. Find a comfortable place to listen. You may want to sit in your favorite chair or go on a peaceful walk. Wherever you choose to listen, make sure it’s somewhere you will be comfortable and won’t be distracted by other things going on around you.

4. Start small. If you’re starting, don’t try to listen to an entire book of the Bible in one sitting. Instead, you can start with one chapter or section. As you get more used to listening, you may increase your time each day.

5. Ask God to show you how to live out his truth. As you listen to the Bible, you may encounter some truths that challenge you to live differently to honor God.

When we seek to live out God’s Word, we experience his work in our lives.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves (James 1:22).

*For further reflection, listen to James 1:22 today.

  1. James 1

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on • Jenny Steinbach

“Is her.BIBLE in different languages? We are an international ministry and reach refugees and immigrants from all over the world.” – Cynthia

Before her.BIBLE was even completed in English, we began receiving many requests for women’s audio Bibles in languages worldwide. And, while we are trying to reach more her.BIBLE listeners in English, we are also eager to coach women to record their own audio Bible in their heart language.

Katy, an Oxford Seminary seminary graduate in her first year of ministry in the Anglican Church was the first woman to start our coaching program.

She comes from a working-class family in Devon, UK, and is passionate about everyday women understanding their value to God. As a result, Katy is recording the NIV in the cockney English accent with multi-ethnic UK women’s voices! Katy explained, “Our main audio Bible in the UK is voiced by a well-known British actor with a very well-to-do accent. But I wanted to hear a woman read the Bible who didn’t particularly have an upper-class background because, in the UK, class is quite a big thing for us. It does create barriers for people.

The Bible talks about unity in diversity. What better way to reach and represent that diversity in the body of Christ than through these different voices?”

Katy recently reflected on the importance of this recording. “I was speaking to an [Asian] woman who has volunteered in the project. She shared that not seeing someone from an Asian background and a woman was a real barrier to her. It discouraged her that perhaps she couldn’t take part in leading because she didn’t look like the others.”

Katy then talked about the importance of the her.BIBLE coaching curriculum.

She shared, “To have a team of women ahead of me who have done what I’m hoping to do has encouraged me. It has been incredibly meaningful and inspiring.”

Pray for Katy as she and her team record, edit and master the New Testament with a goal of launching by International Women’s Day in 2023.

We desire to empower women to reach and disciple women in their nations with audio Bibles in their heart language. Varying reading levels increase the need for audio Scriptures around the globe. Women living in areas where they cannot own or carry a Bible will be able to listen discreetly. We hope to coach more women like Katy who have the longing and skills to produce their own audio Bibles.

Would you join the journey to reach more women with God’s Word? Your donation will help future producers begin their recording process in 2023. Your donation will help future producers begin their recording process in 2023. By giving a gift, you will help us to make training videos and materials for coaching, provide one-on-one consultations with interested women and continue to find more listeners for English. Your gift will enable women worldwide to hear God’s Word in their own language.

You can give online here.

If you have any questions about giving to her.BIBLE, please connect with Lori Dawe, Donor Development at lori.dawe@cru.org.

on • Jenny Steinbach

The last two years’ events and circumstances have changed how we experience life. For some, the movement has been subtle. For others, it’s as if an earthquake shook life’s foundation.

While things shift and change, one thing is sure: Christ never changes, so you are secure.

Advent provides us with a terrific opportunity to reexamine the life of Christ, why He came and how He loves us. Unless we understand who He is, our foundation will be shaky.

Join us, beginning November 28, in a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ through the Gospel of Luke. Prepare with us to celebrate Jesus’ birth on Christmas Day, having pressed deeply into who Jesus is. Having Him as the foundation of your life brings hope and promise to move forward in faith.

“How Can a Weary World Rejoice?” is Cru’s 29-day Advent devotional and guides readers through Luke using the her.BIBLE audio. It includes a daily “Faith Asked Question,” diving deeper into common questions about Christianity.

It’s available daily via SMS, email, and printable PDF. Learn more and sign up here, or text ADVENT to 1-844-335-9080.

Whether you prefer to receive the devotional as a daily email, as a PDF or via text message, we invite you to celebrate Jesus with us this Christmas season.

on • Paige Vanosky

In the past, I have talked to friends who felt intimidated by the Bible but eager to understand it. To guide them, I needed first to ask, “Where do I begin, and how do I begin to make sense of the stories found within the Bible?”

I eventually came to understand the grand, overarching story of the Bible. Those familiar with it often call it the “Greatest Story Ever Told.” It is the story of our world and follows the first branch of our family tree from Adam and Eve to Jesus and then to us.

Reading the Bible with the knowledge that every story fits within this Grand Narrative provides a greater understanding of the Bible, God, and Jesus. Knowing this story provides readers peace and direction for all the challenges life may bring.

This story is best understood in six acts. Let’s look at these acts briefly, realizing there are countless layers to the biblical story.

The first act provides the foundation of this Grand Narrative—humanity’s close relationship with God, which enabled them to care for others, our world, and ourselves just as he would.

In the second act, we learn that today’s troubles are not because God has forgotten us or is uninvolved. Instead, because of sin, we have not remained in a relationship with him. Therefore we are unable to carry out our duties of care for our world. Chaos is the result (Gen. 3:15).

Act three begins with God’s promise to an older man, Abraham, saying one of his descendants from the nation of Israel would redeem the world’s relationship with God.

Act four is the story of that descendant, Jesus, fulfilling this promise through his death, but his resurrection and return to life—overcame all evil. God’s plan to restore an undamaged relationship with himself has become a reality, now available to those who choose to believe in Jesus.

The spread of this good news is act five, where we live today.

Act six will begin at Jesus’ return when evil is defeated forever.

The last vital piece for biblical understanding is prayer and honest conversation with God, discussing your need to hear from him in these biblical stories.

Throughout the Grand Narrative, God extends his hand in loving grace to those whose hearts return to him. “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13).

*For deeper reflection, listen to Genesis 3 today.

on • Debbie McGoldrick

Have you ever watched a lion seeking its prey? An interesting fact is that lions prefer larger and faster animals such as zebras, wildebeest, and buffalo. A lion intentionally stalks its prey and then jumps into a passionate pursuit with every ounce of energy it has. When the animal pursued falls over from exhaustion, the lion devours and satisfies its longings.

My heart’s desire is to be intent on passionately pursuing God, His Word, and His voice with everything I’ve got. Then I can love and feed my ministry team from the overflow of seeking God – just like a lion seeks its prey.

I regularly ask God to keep me hungry and thirsty for Him so that I can say, along with the psalmist in Psalm 63:1,

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land where there is no water.”

One way I have been pursuing God is through a continual practice of reading the Bible, cover to cover, book by book, like a novel. No studying, no underlining, just reading. As the Holy Spirit washes His truths over me, I’ve discovered overarching themes spanning the Bible. Listening to God is one of them.

God’s loving desire and eager expectation is that when we hear His voice, we listen intently, follow intentionally, without delay, discussion or doubt.

In 2017, Jenny Steinbach shared with me her vision for her.BIBLE. I immediately felt drawn to partner with her in prayer. Personally, I began to wonder, what if I added “listening” to my practice of reading God’s Word?

It would be like hearing an audio version of God’s Book. I was intrigued. I wanted to try it. The results have been tremendous. As I have been listening to her.BIBLE, God’s Word has become the background music of my life. Each woman’s unique voice is like a song, bringing a different melody to each book. I love reading and listening to God’s voice as I run hard after Him daily.

Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO loves partnering with her.BIBLE and we look forward to discovering more creative ways to join in ministry in the future. We encourage our women to download and use the her.BIBLE app with their Bible studies groups, disciples, family, and friends!

*For deeper reflection, listen to Psalm 63 today.

on • Jenny Steinbach

Women from around the world are connecting with God in a personal way that speaks to their hearts!

Amanda leads a weekly small-group Bible study for international women on her college campus. When she learned of her.BIBLE at a ministry conference, she immediately knew that it would be just right for the women in her study. Amanda exclaimed:

“This app is in women’s voices, AND it’s multicultural! Women gravitate towards those who sound like them.”

Since attending the conference, Amanda has made her.BIBLE an integral part of their study.

As soon as Amanda offered the “her.BIBLE study” to Anuja, from India, and Novia, her Indonesian friend, they signed up. Then Sharon, a new Christian from China, joined. Later Jennifer, a Mexican believer with lots of questions, wanted to belong. Lastly, a woman from the Middle East decided to join.

Six women from six different countries are coming together to listen and study God’s Word in New York City!

The group began meeting every Wednesday to study the book of John while listening to her.BIBLE. At the beginning of each week, Amanda would send texts, assign passages and offer helpful suggestions:

“While you’re folding clothes, walking to class, going to a coffee shop—listen to the app, and let the Word get inside you.”

By Wednesday, every girl had listened to the Bible passage several times. In the past, when Amanda assigned Scripture to her previous group, they never opened their Bibles to read it, but now these women are excited about God’s Word!

Amanda concluded,

“As they’re listening to the Word throughout the week, they see the importance of being in the Bible each day. What I wanted the most was for the women to want to read the Bible, not just once a week, but to hold on to it throughout the week. And that’s what’s happening!”

Women worldwide are seeking meaning, struggling in their faith, and longing to know their true worth. Together, we can help them find Jesus!

Your gift of any amount will help provide the funding needed to complete the Old Testament production, find more women leaders like Amanda who are longing to share God’s Word, and seek out more listeners through the internet.

You can give online here.

on • Jenny Steinbach

Today is International Women’s Day—a holiday celebrated in countries worldwide from Armenia to Zambia and more! Though it is lovely to set aside a special day to honor women, it is even more remarkable to know that Jesus sees and values women every single day.

Melody helps women understand how Jesus values them by leading a weekly Bible study in her neighborhood.

She shares, “What I love about her.BIBLE is how ethnically diverse the women’s voices are because my Bible study is ethnically diverse.

“We have women right now from Angola, Nicaragua, and Mexico. It’s just so beautiful to hear them when they talk about their heart for God and their beautiful accents and ethnically diverse experiences.”
Melody goes on to explain, “To have a tool to give them, that’s also reflective of what we are as a Bible study, I think is amazing. And it’s just such a gift to be able to give that to them. So that’s why I use it in ALL my neighbor Bible studies I lead.”

We are thrilled to have her.BIBLE listeners in more than 170 countries, and also thrilled that there are women who want to produce an audio Bible in their heart languages.

Katy, who is producing an audio Bible in British voices, explains, “It’s not the male voices that are the problem [in current audio versions]. It’s the lack of female voices. There’s something about the familiarity a woman’s voice brings.”

You can join us in bringing God’s Word in women’s comforting voices to people all over the world. Just open the her.BIBLE app, click on the three bars in the upper-left corner of your phone, then click on share app. You can also click on a Bible verse and share it with a friend.

As you celebrate International Women’s Day, we pray that you will know how deeply loved you are by God. “May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is” (Ephesians 3:18). Then share His love with someone you know!

on • Jenny Steinbach

We all know the phrase, “It is better to give than to receive.” Leslie and Cassandra gave their voices.

Leslie, our reader for Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Micah and Jonah said,

“I’ve been a student of God’s word all my life. I know that God’s word is written to all people, in all places, at all times. And yet, I’d only heard the Bible read by men.

“I never thought that was a barrier until I heard women reading God’s Word. And it felt like a veil lifted for me. I know that God loves women. Hearing God’s word in women’s voices has helped me experience God’s love for me personally.”

Cassandra, our reader for Genesis, Proverbs, Hosea and Joel shared,

“I’m so honored to be a part of this project. I mean it, from the bottom of my heart.

“When I am recording, I think about a villager on the mountains in the Himalayas. Because the world has become so small and there are no limitations as to where sound can go, so why not let the Word of God be disseminated in these places? To the far-flung corners of the world.”

One such listener in a far-flung corner of the world is Carril in Trinidad and Tobago. Carril received comfort through her.BIBLE voices, like Leslie and Cassandra, when her dad recently passed away. (To see Carril’s story in full, click here).

“It was so traumatic for me. I could not read my Bible, but I knew I needed God. I needed his comfort, but through the tears, I just could not see to read. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to read while crying, but everything is a blur. I remembered the her.BIBLE app on my phone! I just let the Word of God wash over me and comfort me. It offered an added comfort in a female voice because it was almost motherly.”

Would you like to reach more listeners like Carril who are longing to hear God’s word? Your one time or monthly gift of any amount will help us complete the Old Testament and encourage people’s hearts around the world. (You can give online here.)

Thank you and may you have a blessed holiday season!

on • Chara Donahue

God, through his Spirit, inspired and wrote the most epic love story of all. Isn’t it startling how easily we forget this? His story contains the universe’s origin, a tragic fall, and a heroic rescue that restores shattered souls and hurting hearts.


In the book of 1 John, readers are invited on their own journey towards love, light, and transformation. Jesus invites us to partner with him in the work of reconciling a broken world. In 1 John, we see elements of what classic writers call ‘the hero’s journey’.

In our quest towards being reconcilers, we will face our own imperfect heroic story in which there is a departure from the ways of God, an invitation into his family, and the return of our spirits to light and life.

Departure
We were born to a story already in progress—our souls already in danger. Every sin we commit is a further departure from the ways of God. John tells us, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” (1 John 2:16)


Invitation
The good news of the gospel tells us Jesus is the Shepherd drawing us back from our departure. “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a).

“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

Return

Finally, we are drawn back to the kingdom of God, and there will be a day when the earth and all its creatures return to perfection. “…And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.” (1 John 5:20b)

Want more of the story? Listen to the wisdom, warnings and wooing of I John.