Timberline Church Takes Bold Steps to Foster Unity Through Live AI Translation

Challenge: Uniting Worship Through Language and Connection

For those who don’t speak English, fully engaging in worship can be a source of comfort, strength, and belonging in a world that often feels unwelcoming. In today’s increasingly polarized society, language can become an invisible barrier, creating separation, where there should be a connection.

Timberline Church saw this challenge firsthand and set out to change things.

Established in 1921, Timberline is a multi-campus church. Under the leadership of Senior Pastor Dary Northtop, the congregation has grown substantially over the years and strives to make a positive impact within the congregation and society. They believe that faith is about more than just words, it’s about connection, community, and understanding.

Though the surrounding Northern Colorado community is predominantly English-speaking, approximately 16% of the population speaks another language at home, with Spanish being the most common. To ensure that non-English-speaking attendees could fully engage with their sermons, Timberline began using Wordly in 2024 to provide real-time translation during services. Building on this effort, they sought a way to go beyond translation alone, to find a way to not only bridge the language gap, but also foster empathy, deepen relationships, and create a stronger sense of community with their multilingual neighbours.

“It’s one thing to know that language barriers exist, but it’s another to sit in church and struggle to understand what’s being said,” offered Pastor John Mehl. “For many of our non-English-speaking members, this is their weekly reality.”

Solution: Experiencing Worship Through a Different Language

To deepen understanding and encourage empathy. Timberline hosted a special “reverse translation” service designed to put English-speaking members in the position of those who worship in a language they don’t fully understand.

During a sermon focused on embracing and accepting those who are different from us, a portion of the message was delivered in Spanish. English-speaking attendees relied on Wordly to follow along, highlighting the importance of language access in the church community.

“It’s one thing to acknowledge that language barriers exist, but it’s another to experience what it’s like to step in another person’s shoes,” said Pastor Mehl. “Imagine needing the comfort of scripture, the reassurance of prayer, or the inspiration of a sermon, yet feeling disconnected because the words are unfamiliar. For many of our non-English-speaking attendees, this is unfortunately their daily reality.”

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Results: A More Caring and Connected Community

For many, the experience was eye-opening. By stepping into the shoes of those who depend on live translation, Timberline’s congregation didn’t just gain awareness, they built empathy and relationships.

“I never realized how much I take for granted being able to hear and understand a sermon without effort,” said Timberline Church Member Jeff Bitterman. “For the first few minutes, I felt lost, like I was on the outside looking in.”

This exercise opened new conversations, new connections, and a broader sense of community. One where we strive to understand each other’s experiences, rather than just observe them from a distance.

Future: Continuing the Mission of Inclusion

“We believe strongly that faith should have no barriers,” continued Pastor Mehl. “This experience reinforced that ensuring everyone has access to worship, in a language they understand, is more than a service; it’s a necessity.”

Timberline Church’s commitment to breaking down language barriers doesn’t stop here. They continue to expand their use of Wordly’s church translation technology, ensuring that worship remains a place of belonging for all by making services accessible to all members each week. By providing live AI translation in dozens of languages, non-English speakers can now fully participate in services alongside their English-speaking neighbors.

By scanning a QR code with their smartphone, congregants can instantly listen to or read the sermon in their preferred language. This seamless integration means that non-English speakers no longer have to miss out on the message.

“By continuing to use Wordly’s real-time translation platform, we are actively breaking down language barriers, ensuring that every person who walks through our doors can fully participate in worship, build relationships, and experience the power of faith together.”

About Timberline Church

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Timberline Church is a vibrant, multisite Christian community based in Fort Collins, Colorado, dedicated to creating spaces of belonging and spiritual growth for people from all walks of life. With a mission to let love live, Timberline offers both in-person and online services, outreach programs, and community events that reflect its inclusive and service-oriented culture. The church emphasizes connection, compassion, and accessibility, striving to make every message and experience welcoming to its diverse congregation across Northern Colorado and beyond.

About Wordly

Wordly is the pioneer and leader in live interpretation, providing a high-quality, secure, easy-to-use, and affordable live AI translation and caption solution for communicating across multiple languages. Wordly translates dozens of languages in real time, making in-person and virtual meetings and events more inclusive, accessible, and engaging.

Its SaaS platform meets enterprise-grade security and privacy standards and eliminates the need for human interpreters or special equipment. Millions of users across thousands of organizations rely on Wordly to make their events and meetings accessible to everyone.

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