The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots may have been opponents in Sunday's Super Bowl matchup, but the teams share common interest: the YouVersion Bible.
Players from both teams promoted the app, and reading the Bible in general, in a new video advertisement published by the app's creators.
"We live in a world now where people are on the run so much, they spend five or six hours at home a day," Patriots wide receiver Matt Slater said. "When we have technology that's readily available to us, it makes it easy to get into God's word."
YouVersion is a free app that allows Android, iOS, Blackberry, and other mobile users to download the Bible in over 1,000 versions and over 700 languages. Over 160 million people have downloaded the app on their smartphones and tablets since 2007.
Seahawks defensive end Greg Scruggs said that reading the Bible helped him after a knee injury sidelined his Super Bowl appearance. He reflected on Matthew 6:33-34: "so do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own, (NIV)."
"I thought about that and that's such a big statement to me in my life," Scruggs said in the YouVersion video.
"I'm always thinking about where I'm going to go from injured reserve, how's my knee going to heal, how am I going to be better?
"Everybody in this world is going through struggles., but as I walk in my struggle as everybody else does, there is something peaceful about reading the Bible."
Seahawks defensive tackle Russell Okung liked the accessibility that the app offers, making it easier for believers to stay in the Word.
"They say the Bible is a living word. It's sharper than a two edged sword," said Okung.
"So when you read the Bible, read the word for yourself and see what God is saying about you and what He wants to tell you, it's great. And I love that YouVersion can easily put it in your hands."
