Oklahoma-based church tracks Bible story readings

These days, technology is being used to share the familiar story of Christ's birth as chronicled in Scripture — and Edmond-based LifeChurch.tv can prove it.

Bobby Gruenewald, the church's pastor-innovation leader, said millions of people are reading the story via the free YouVersion Bible app developed by LifeChurch.tv.

In fact, Gruenewald said the Christmas story has gone viral.

Gruenewald, 36, said the church has created a “Global Operations Center” at its headquarters at Second Street and Interstate 35 to track how many people are reading the Christmas story through the Bible app.

Since the live Christmas story tracker's Dec. 1 launch, more than 3.6 million people have downloaded the memorable story through the Bible app, he said.

With the tracker, every time a reader clicks on the story, a star lights up on the tracker's world map, “and the ticker grows by one more soul,” LifeChurch.tv leaders said.

Church leaders said the Christmas story tracker is a twist on the entertaining “Santa Tracker” developed by the North American Aerospace Defense Command known as NORAD. The Santa Tracker helps children follow the progress of Santa Claus as he delivers gifts around the world in the hours and minutes leading up to Christmas Day.