EDMOND, OK (March 6, 2013) – The YouVersion Bible mobile application developed by the Evangelical Covenant Church congregation LifeChurch.tv is the official companion app of “The Bible,” the History channel’s new 10-part cable television series that premiered Sunday.

Co-producers for the series are Mark Burnett, producer of “Survivor” and “The Voice,” and his wife. Roma Downey, best known for her role in “Touched by an Angel.”

Bobby Gruenewald, pastor of innovation for the church, said in an interview with an Oklahoma newspaper that the relationship with the church and producers began several years ago. “It presents the Bible in a whole new way, and potentially a whole new audience will be able to connect with it and really have it come to life, so it fits with what we do ‘missionally,’ ” he said. “And then we also feel like there will be millions of people watching on television, and we would love to be able to connect them to an app that they can have with them every day of the week.”

Downey has said, “Our prayer has always been that the dramatization of these stories will drive viewers to go to the Bible itself and drink in the actual text, because it is a book that changes lives.” Downey, who plays the role of Jesus’s mother, Mary, added, “We are thrilled to provide millions of people with an easy way to do so with YouVersion.”

Clips from the series are available on the app – click here to read more. The newest version of the app is required.

Last December, LifeChurch.tv reported the app had been downloaded 72 million times onto smart phones and tablets.