YouVersion, creator of the world’s most popular Bible App, with over a billion installs, has opened a regional hub in South Africa to support the significant Bible engagement momentum already underway across Africa.
The opening celebration in Cape Town on February 26 followed a similar celebration in Nairobi, Kenya on February 23 to mark the launch of a hub there. SA with nearly 29 million installs and 11% year-over-year growth in daily use of YouVersion’s Bible apps, and Kenya with 19 million installs and 39% year-over-year growth, both rank among the top five countries globally for daily engagement. Nigeria, with over 40 million installs and a 42% increase in daily engagement is also one of the top five nations.
YouVersion Founder and CEO Bobby Gruenewald attended the opening celebrations of both African hubs.
The Cape Town opening celebration marks a deepened commitment to partnerships with local churches, content creators, and leaders who are adding even more African voices to the Bible App, says YouVersion in a press release.
The hub team is made up of people who have lived and worked in the region for many years and are deeply rooted in the faith community. This connection enables authentic partnerships with local churches, content creators, and ministry leaders who are shaping how Scripture reaches their communities.
Nqobile Ngcobo SA hub leader and host of the Cape Town celebration, said: “Our deep roots here allow us to partner with local voices to create content that authentically reflects African experiences. We’ve witnessed Scripture’s transformative power firsthand, and we’re dedicated to helping Africans engage with God’s Word through their own languages, cultural expressions, and faith stories. This celebration is just the beginning of how we’ll bring people together around a shared vision of helping people everywhere engage with Scripture every day.”
Beyond content development, the team’s local expertise informs how YouVersion serves users across the continent. They understand the everyday realities people face, including data costs that make every megabyte matter and connectivity challenges in rural areas. Bible App Lite, designed for limited phone storage and offline use, was developed with African users’ needs at the center. Since 2022, learnings from African communities have shaped Bible App Lite’s development, and those innovations now serve people worldwide who navigate similar constraints.
People across the continent can access Scripture in their heart language, with Swahili, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, and many other African languages available among nearly 2,400 total languages offered in the Bible App. This commitment to African languages extends to even the youngest users. Bible App for Kids is available in Afrikaans and Swahili, helping children engage with Scripture in their heart language through interactive animations and fun activities. All of YouVersion’s apps are free to install and use, removing financial barriers to accessing God’s Word.
Bobby Gruenewald, who spoke at the celebration, said: “The momentum we’re seeing across Africa is remarkable. God is doing something powerful through the local churches, ministries, and leaders who are passionate about His Word. We’re grateful to have Nqobile and her team leading the YouVersion South Africa Hub. They bring deep relationships, cultural understanding, and authentic connections that will help ensure millions of Africans can engage with Scripture through the Bible App in ways that truly resonate with each of them.”
Louisa Xabela who represented Gateway News at the Cape Town celebration, writes: “This was not simply a tech milestone celebration or a YouVersion Hub Cape Town launch. It was a declaration that the Word remains alive, relevant, and a solution to the world — now accessible via screens, languages, and nations.
“From Cape Town to the nations, revival is not retreating. It is being digitised, mobilised, and carried in the hands of millions.”
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