Church Translation Services Powered by AI Unlock Inclusivity

Kenny Jahng from ChurchTech Today recently sat down with Dave Deasy from Wordly to discuss how AI-powered church translation services unlock inclusivity. Language barriers have become a significant hurdle for churches striving to be more inclusive and increase their membership. But the good news is solutions like Wordly are stepping in to help.

Watch the video interview here.

Overview

As more churches recognize the importance of inclusivity, language barriers have become an essential issue to address. Fortunately, AI-powered solutions like Wordly bridge these gaps, making it easier for churches, temples, synagogues, and other houses of worship to offer live translation and captions during their services.

The Practical Power of AI in Church Services

When people think of AI, they often imagine complex algorithms for tech-savvy users. But at its core, AI is designed to simplify life and is perfect for practical uses, like making events, services, and meetings more accessible for churches.

Eliminating Volunteer Burnout and Expensive Equipment

For many churches, live translation has relied on volunteers, which has particular challenges. Unlike paid employees, volunteers may not be as reliable or have the proper training.

Since Wordly is automated, it removes the need for volunteers and alleviates the stress of managing them. This automation also eliminates the need for expensive translation equipment, such as radio receivers and mic packs, making the process more efficient and less burdensome for churches.

How Wordly Creates User-Friendly Experiences

Wordly's simplicity is one of its biggest strengths. Kenny Jahng shared in the video that setting up the system from a church's perspective is straightforward. All you need is a connection from the church audio system to the Wordly platform, which can be done in about five minutes using a tablet or laptop.

For attendees, accessing the translation service is just as convenient. During an in-person service, they simply scan a QR code with their smartphones, leading them to a screen where they can choose from over 60 languages. The selected language’s live captions and  audio are streamed directly to their phone—no app downloads or Wordly account is required for attendees, ensuring a smooth experience.

Additionally, Wordly supports multiple languages simultaneously, which is perfect for congregations with diverse language needs. Churches can even display translations on large monitors, making the service more inclusive without needing individual devices. Discover how AI translation works in four easy steps.

Expanding the Reach of Church Services

Wordly's benefits extend far beyond church services. The tool is also ideal for planning meetings, volunteer training sessions, and virtual or hybrid events. Wordly integrates with platforms like Zoom and Teams, allowing real-time translation and captioning during webinars and online discussions.

Dave Deasy from Wordly shared that many churches have already seen significant improvements in community engagement thanks to the tool. By making services more accessible, churches can attract a more diverse congregation and foster a more profound sense of connection among members.

Customizing the Experience with Glossaries

One common concern with AI-powered translation is accuracy, particularly regarding specific terminology unique to a church's community or denomination.

Wordly addresses this by providing a customizable glossary feature. Churches can add names of people, local town names, and other unique terms to ensure the translation is accurate and relevant. This glossary can be continually updated and refined, allowing the translation to adapt to the church's evolving needs.

Wordly is a Tool for the Future

As churches continue to navigate the challenges of serving diverse communities, tools like Wordly offer a promising solution. By leveraging AI to provide live translation and captioning, churches can make their services more inclusive, eliminate volunteer burnout, and reduce the need for expensive equipment.

With technology like Wordly, the future of church services is more inclusive and accessible. Take Wordly for a test drive now.

Watch the video interview here.