Journey Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick, has over 50 nations gathering in worship each Sunday; and that’s provided tremendous opportunities that have also come with a few challenges. New Brunswick’s immigration surge in recent years has brought people from Ukraine, Syria, Brazil and beyond to the city. Some came through government programs, others arrived for education or work, and many found their way to Journey Church through word of mouth. As Lead Pastor Matt Maxwell puts it, “When Scripture says, ‘Go to all nations,’ we don’t have to go very far.”
As the church’s international reach grew, a major challenge became apparent: language barriers were keeping some people from fully engaging in worship. One Ukrainian woman, for example, loved the community at Journey but never entered the Celebration Centre because she couldn’t understand English. Her son, Ivan, would sit in the service but much of the message was lost on him. Google Translate wasn’t a viable solution — especially for those with vision impairments or limited literacy in English.
At the same time, word of mouth continued to bring more international families to Journey. “And once you start growing that way, word really spreads,” Pastor Matt Palmer, pastor of Discipleship and Leadership, explained. “Each national community reaches out to their own community, and it goes in waves.” The translation need became more pressing, and the staff kept wondering how to accommodate all the languages needed for a rapidly globalizing church.
That’s when Journey discovered Wordly.AI, an AI-powered live translation tool that provides text and audio translations in real time. Unlike traditional interpretation services, Wordly.AI doesn’t require a team of translators or a typed transcription; it just needs an iPad connected to the church’s sound system. Congregants scan a QR code with their phone, select their preferred language, and can immediately hear the sermon audio in their language or read the transcript on their own device.
“We did a soft launch with a few different language backgrounds,” Pastor Palmer said. “It was costly — around $6,000 to $7,000 per year — but we thought, ‘If we’re a church of the nations and not just a church with people from other nations, we need to put our money where our mouth is.’”
One of Wordly.AI’s key features is the ability to customize theological terminology or words that are difficult to translate literally. For instance, “There are certain words — like ‘Journey,’ our church name — that don’t always translate well if we’re not clear about them,” Pastor Palmer noted. “So, we can manually add those into a dictionary to ensure consistency across languages.”
The response has been overwhelming. “If it’s ever not working, people immediately come to the sound booth asking, ‘What’s going on?’” Pastor Maxwell shared. The addition of live translation has made Journey hospitable to those from various national backgrounds who have come to call Journey “home.”
And the impact extends beyond the church walls. “Because it’s on your mobile phone, you can be at home watching the live stream and receive the translation,” Pastor Maxwell explained. Journey has regular virtual attenders in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan who now tune in each week to hear the sermons in their own language.
The use of Wordly.AI is just one reflection of how Journey is adapting to love and serve their new neighbors. Beyond translation, the church is actively engaged in immigrant support — working with the local multicultural association, helping newcomers secure housing and even administering financial support for refugees by stewarding a trust for family members who are working through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) program to bring heir loved ones to Canada. Pastor Scott Wood, pastor of Outreach and Evangelism, is deeply involved with immigrant and refugee support, helping guide refugee families through the immigration process as they make Canada their new home.
The Celebration Centre contains a flag wall, serving as a reminder of Journey’s rapidly growing international community. What began in 2019 as a wall with just a few flags has grown beyond what the church initially envisioned, with new flags regularly added as families from around the world make Journey their home. That representation matters. “That flag wall does something,” Pastor Maxwell said. “If you were in another country and you saw your nation’s flag, you’d be excited. We remind our congregation regularly: If your country’s not up there, let us know, and we’ll buy a flag.”
For churches wondering how to engage their immigrant neighbors, Pastor Palmer offers the following advice:
- Listen and respond quickly. Journey’s strong relationship with the Ukrainian community started with a rapid response to the war, as the congregation listened to the needs of their Ukrainian neighbors and reached out to offer space for prayer and support. Within weeks, the church sent nearly a dozen pallets of aid overseas. That act of generosity opened doors for connection.
- Build partnerships. Working with local organizations that already support immigrants can make a significant impact.
- Embrace technology. Tools like Wordly.AI remove barriers that might otherwise keep people from experiencing the gospel and feeling at home within the gathering of the church.
At Journey, the leadership believes that God has brought the nations to their doorstep, and they are committed to making sure everyone can hear the good news. “What if the nations are coming to us and we aren’t ready?” Pastor Palmer asks. “Maybe it’s time to change that.”
For more information about how your church might implement this type of technology, reach out to Pastor Matt Palmer, pastor of Discipleship and Leadership, at matt.palmer@journeychurch.ca.
Rev. Ethan Linder is the pastor of discipleship at College Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana, and contributing editor at The Wesleyan Church’s Education and Clergy Development Division.
