A Year of Prayer now on The Bible App
BY LERISSE SMITH
The Bible App is the most widely used app among Christians worldwide, and now the Salvos have partnered with the platform.
The Salvation Army has launched weekly devotionals on The Bible App titled A Year of Prayer, with the first season now live.
It aims to empower local communities to continue praying together and go deeper into the Bible to increase their knowledge of God and knowledge of themselves.
“This is the start of an exciting new era,” said Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane, Secretary for Spiritual Life Development.
“We are very excited about this amazing new initiative. The hope with our Bible App is that people can search A Year of Prayer. The Bible App is a fantastic resource for personal devotions or small group gatherings. The app is not like an email where you are getting hounded. It just pops up and says, “Hey, read the app today,” and it provides you with the scriptural references and then also the opportunity to comment with the people who are doing it with you.
“The app has always been my aim and my hope. But it was quite difficult to get on The Bible App because it is so widely used and everybody wants to be on it."
The motivating force to be on The Bible App also came from the revelations that Rosy had when composing daily devotions featured on Soul Space and on the website for the Salvos staff. She realised it could only be accessed by those who had a Salvation Army email address.
Rosy then expanded her devotions to all who had access to the MySalvos internal site. This led to the further revelation that people were more on their phones than computers, either for leisure or work, especially young people who used apps all the time.
“I knew that there was a real gap missing for Salvation Army content on the phone that was easily accessible that was in apps we were already using – and so I’d really hope to get there,” she reflected.
“Anyone can start at any point during the year whether it’s day one or week one. Users can also invite others to join in the daily devotions that are “punchy and short, but meaty,” remarked Rosy.”
“So, that’s what I had been working towards and then the Salvos International Spiritual Life team launched on The Bible App and have got amazing resources and I asked them if they would consider putting our devotions on their app. They said yes. I was just over the moon because I knew it was the start of a new era.”
App users can receive daily notifications to remind them to read the Bible, pray and act. Whether they use the app for daily devotions or as a tool for team meetings, it can provide focus and structure while drawing people into prayer.
Anyone can start at any point during the year whether it’s day one or week one. Users can also invite others to join in the daily devotions that are “punchy and short, but meaty,” remarked Rosy.
The Bible App’s A Year of Prayer is free, with no advertising and no in-app purchases. Rosy explained that one key feature is a journey through the Bible in four seasons. Weekly Scriptures will be explored throughout the year, and five Bible reflections will be available on weekdays.
The Salvos want everyone to use the app, including young people who use apps more than computers. Placing content on The Bible App would allow it to be in the hands of people who already use it daily.
“To have the app in their hands is a win,” she said. “I’m always looking for ways to innovate, to help it be more accessible. But that’s step one. I feel it’s now in their hands and in their pockets.”
In addition to the app, the Salvos are providing an editable A Year of Prayer calendar. The tool allows users to select a starting date, and the program automatically populates the dates. Undated A Year of Prayer cards can also be reused.
Salvos Chapel also runs online every Wednesday at 9.30am (AEST). It’s a 20-minute pause in the day where people gather to reflect on the weekly A Year of Prayer scripture.
People have described it as a little bubble of warmth and joy, Rosy commented, and it offers a space for anyone looking to pause and engage with others in prayer.
“I encourage everyone to join us for chapel,” she said. “I’m always there every week to welcome you. We have a really good time.”
For details on the Salvos The Bible App, click here :
For details on the Salvos Online Chapel, click here:
