A Divine Connection Through Technology: The Remarkable Story Behind Hello Bible

What if a lost dog in Dallas could spark a revolution in how millions of people engage with the Bible? In our latest Global Missional AI podcast episode, we sit down with Eric Celerier, a visionary French pastor and technologist whose journey from creating church websites in 1997 to pioneering AI-powered Bible engagement is nothing short of extraordinary.

The Prophetic Vision: AI Bible Engagement Before ChatGPT

Sixteen years before ChatGPT made headlines, Eric received a vision that would reshape his ministry forever. During a seemingly chance encounter involving a lost dog named Hadassah (Hebrew for “for a time like this”), Eric connected with Raul Garcia, an AI pioneer who introduced him to the potential of artificial intelligence for gospel advancement.

Eric’s prediction in 2009 was remarkable:

• People would ask biblical questions on their phones
• AI would provide instant, personalized responses
• The technology would understand individual context and background
• All the words of Jesus would be accessible through intelligent search

His prediction timeline? Ten years. The reality? Just thirteen years later, Hello Bible became one of the first Christian AI applications designed specifically for Bible engagement.

Hello Bible: More Than Just Another Bible App

Unlike traditional Bible applications, Hello Bible represents a fundamental shift in how people can interact with Scripture. Built on Christian-aligned large language models (LLMs), the app provides:

• Contextual Biblical Responses: Answers tailored to individual backgrounds, languages, and life situations
• Theological Foundation: Built with input from Protestant, evangelical, and Catholic theologians
• Cultural Sensitivity: Designed to work across different cultural contexts, from secular France to evangelical America
• Memory Integration: RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) technology that remembers previous conversations

The French Perspective: Ministry in a Post-Christian Context

Eric’s unique vantage point from France—a largely secular, post-Christian nation—has shaped his innovative approach to digital evangelism. As he explains in the podcast:

“When you were born in France, in a non-Christian country with lots of opposition to Jesus, to the church, to the Gospel, you have to think differently.”

This perspective has driven him to create technology that meets people where they are, understanding that not every country has the same openness to Christian messaging as the United States.

The Chosen Connection: From Vision to Global Distribution

Eric’s story includes his instrumental role in bringing “The Chosen” series to French national television and developing global distribution strategies. His work demonstrates how technology for God’s kingdom can create unprecedented opportunities for gospel advancement across cultural and linguistic barriers.

Building the First Christian Large Language Model

Perhaps most significantly, Eric and his team are developing what may be one of the first Christian-aligned large language models. This open-source project aims to:

• Provide biblically grounded responses without extensive prompting
• Serve the global church community
• Align with Christian values and theological principles
• Offer an alternative to secular AI models that may not share Christian perspectives

Real Impact: Transforming Lives Through AI Bible Engagement

The testimonials speak for themselves. One French user, Tim, shared:

“Hello Bible really was a beacon in my darkness. Being able to interact, to pour out my heart freely, was a real liberation for me… it has opened up new horizons in my darkest moment.”

With a 25% engagement rate in France during its first months—a remarkable achievement in a largely secular culture—Hello Bible demonstrates the power of personalized Bible engagement through AI technology.

The Future of Digital Ministry and AI

Eric’s vision extends far beyond a single application. He sees a future where:

• Bible assistants help people connect with God’s Word daily
• Open-source Christian AI serves the global church
• Contextual gospel presentation reaches every individual according to their unique story
• AI-powered discipleship supports spiritual growth worldwide

Why This Podcast Episode Matters for Church Leaders and Technologists

Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or technology professional, Eric’s journey offers invaluable insights into:

• Prompt engineering for Christian applications
• Cross-cultural ministry through technology
• AI ethics from a Christian perspective
• Digital innovation for gospel advancement
• Global distribution strategies for Christian content

Watch the Full Interview: Innovation Meets Faith

This podcast episode offers a rare glimpse into the intersection of faith and artificial intelligence from someone who has been pioneering this space for over two decades. Eric’s story—from the prophetic encounter with a lost dog to building cutting-edge AI applications—demonstrates how God can use technology to advance His kingdom in unprecedented ways.