By John Jessup of CBN News
As a mother and an ordained minister, Lauren Jones wanted her children, Kent and Lacey, to share her love for the Bible.
As an early adopter of the YouVersion Bible App for Kids, she had no idea it would serve as the key to unlock her son’s ability to communicate.
Lauren sensed her firstborn child, Kent, was struggling — missing early developmental milestones.
“When we were at church, he would have breakdowns where he would scream-cry because of the noise,” Jones told CBN News at her home on the outskirts of Baltimore.
“As he started gaining more words, he was very repetitive.”
“I DIDN’T KNOW IF KENT WOULD EVER SPEAK”
Kent was diagnosed with autism and as non-verbal.
“I didn’t know if he would ever speak. I didn’t know if he would be potty trained or be able to live on his own as he grew older,” his mum explained.
As Lauren navigated the diagnosis, tragedy struck again.
At seven months pregnant — with her second child, Lacey — her husband, Gabriel, died after suffering a fatal seizure.
He was 28 years old, and Lauren suddenly was left to raise their two children on her own.
LAUREN LEANED ON HER FAITH FOR HOPE AND HER CHILDREN’S FUTURE
“I was very afraid when they were babies and toddlers,” she said.
“I didn’t know what their lives would look like as they grew up.”
Lauren leaned on her faith for hope, often drawing solace and inspiration from the Bible.
“Right after my husband died, I started receiving the emails from YouVersion advertising the Bible App for Kids, and I just loved it,” she recalled.
“I thought that it would be a great way for me to introduce my faith to my children.”
HOW THE YOUVERSION KIDS APP CHANGED EVERYTHING
It worked. Lauren described how it engaged both of her young children with the colourful graphics and interactive storytelling.
However, she wasn’t prepared for what happened next.
Kent started reciting those Bible stories, his own words mimicking the intonation of the narration and characters in the app.
Lauren captured the dramatic moments on her iPhone.
“I was so excited to hear his voice,” she explained.
“I would send the videos of him reciting the story of Daniel in the lion’s den to my mum and my siblings. It just made me so excited.”
KENT IS NOW BLESSED WITH SOCIAL, COMMUNICATIONS AND LEARNING SKILLS
Now an early teenager, Kent speaks clearly, earns good grades, and plays the trumpet in his school band. He also drums for fun.
“I’m very glad I’m able to talk,” he told CBN News. “It’s a super duper necessary skill.”
Kent’s journey caught the attention of the YouVersion team.
In November, his story was prominently featured in a short video to mark one billion downloads across YouVersion’s multiple products since its initial launch in 2008.
STANDING OVATION FOR KENT AND HIS MUM
A sold-out crowd gave Kent and his mum a standing ovation when they walked onto the stage at an event to mark the milestone.
With 13,000 people in the arena, Kent answered questions about his favorite Bible verse; 1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.
The Lord does not look at the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Kent also offered a prayer of gratitude.
“Thank you for letting the Bible app make a huge difference in my life and in the lives of countless people around the world,” he said.
HOW STORIES LIKE KENT’S ANIMATE THE YOUVERSION MISSION
Stories like Kent’s animate the mission of YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald.
“Our vision is God’s Word. Everyone. Everywhere. Every day,” Gruenewald said.
“With three ‘every’s’ in the vision statement, we’re pretty much not done — ever.”
Before developing the Bible App, Gruenewald saw himself as a “below-average” Bible reader.
“I wanted it to be more a part of my everyday life,” he explained.
“I thought maybe technology could help me. I thought maybe it could be a tool that could help me build consistency.”
YOUVERSION’S EXPONENTIAL GROWTH
That personal goal has multiplied exponentially.
The weekend it launched, the Bible App debuted to 83,000 downloads.
Thirteen years later in 2021, it hit half a billion installs, then another half billion over the next four years.
Gruenewald believes that rapid growth could put the next billion within reach, possibly in the next five years.
“WE SERVE A GOD WHO’S NOT LIMITED BY OUR IMAGINATION”
“We serve a God who’s not limited by our imagination.”
It’s a belief Kent Jones also shares.
“What happened to me through the Bible app is evidence that miracles are possible,” Kent observed.
“No matter how impossible they seem.”
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