This letter is shared to explain why the NIV translation is not currently available in BIBLE HOOK. It is written with respect for Biblica and appreciation for their ministry.
Dear Biblica team,
First, thank you for taking the time to consider my request and for the work you do to make God’s Word available around the world.
I recently reached out to request permission to include the NIV translation in a new Bible memorization app called BIBLE HOOK. Before reaching out, I assumed there would be a pathway for ministry-minded projects to license the NIV, provided they were willing to pay the required fees and handle the text responsibly.
Unfortunately, my request was declined because the app has not yet reached the user and engagement thresholds required to be considered. In the response, it was explained that applicants should demonstrate a minimum of 2,500 monthly active users, sustained growth and engagement, before being considered for NIV licensing.
I want to be clear that I respect your decision. At the same time, I would like to share a perspective that I believe is worth considering.
One reason I felt compelled to write this letter is because I really resonate with Biblica’s mission: “The Bible for everyone, everywhere to experience the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.” It is a mission I really believe in as well and it inspires me to reach out.
My concern is not primarily about BIBLE HOOK. Rather, it’s about the broader scope of new Christian projects. Many ministry-focused apps and tools start with no users at all. They are often started by individuals, churches, volunteers, or entrepreneurs who see a need and are willing to invest time, energy, and resources into serving God’s people. They rely on trust, relevance, and accessibility to gain traction. When the NIV – the translation many Christians use daily – is not available, it can make it significantly harder for new ideas to get off the ground.
This can create a circular challenge for early-stage projects: they need meaningful growth and engagement before they can access the NIV, while not having access to the NIV can make it substantially harder to get that engagement in the first place. Also, from reading app reviews, it’s quite clear that users care a lot about Bible versions, and the first reviews are always the most important ones for new apps and projects.
I do not raise this concern because I believe any individual project deserves special treatment. In fact, I completely understand why Biblica wants to be fair and consistent. My concern is broader than my own project.
I want to acknowledge that there may be practical reasons behind the entry thresholds. Opening the NIV to more new apps and ministries would likely create a much larger workload for Biblica’s team in reviewing and monitoring requests. But nonetheless, I believe it’s important and something that can be handled. For example, Biblica could introduce a non-refundable application fee to help cover the cost of reviewing new requests. My hope is not for lower standards, but for a way to let new Scripture-focused ideas to be considered as well.
Regardless of whether that ever becomes possible, I remain grateful for the work Biblica has done and continues to do. My hope in writing this letter is not to criticize, but simply to contribute a perspective from someone who shares Biblica’s desire to help more people engage with, remember, and be transformed by God’s Word.
Thank you for listening.
With respect and appreciation,
Morten Storgaard
Founder, Bible Hook