Timberline Church Case Study

How are churches using AI for translation?

Churches are using AI translation to let attendees follow services in their own language in real time, usually on their own phones, without interpreters, headsets, or special equipment. Common uses include translating sermons and weekly worship for multilingual congregations, adding live captions for members who are deaf or hard of hearing, supporting bilingual or special services such as weddings and funerals, and reaching remote or online attendees. Because the translation happens live and on personal devices, it scales to dozens of languages at once and keeps everyone together in the same service rather than splitting them into separate rooms or sessions.

Timberline Church is one example. The Northern Colorado congregation uses Wordly to provide real-time translation during services, and it has gone a step further by using the technology to build empathy across its community, helping English-speaking members understand what worshippers who rely on translation experience every week.

Why isn't translation alone enough to make a church feel inclusive?

Translation removes the language barrier, but true belonging takes more than words. Timberline Church had been using Wordly for real-time translation during services since 2024 so non-English-speaking attendees could fully engage with sermons, yet the church wanted to go further: to foster empathy, deepen relationships, and build a stronger sense of community with its multilingual neighbors.

Established in 1921, Timberline is a multi-campus church in Northern Colorado that has grown substantially over the years under Senior Pastor Dary Northtop. The surrounding community is predominantly English-speaking, but roughly 16% of the population speaks another language at home, most commonly Spanish. The church believes faith is about more than words; it is about connection, community, and understanding.

"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."

How can a church help members understand what non-English speakers experience?

One way is to let them feel it firsthand. To deepen understanding and encourage empathy, Timberline hosted a service that 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, and 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.”

Can experiencing another language build empathy in a congregation?

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

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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