Innovation in Faith: LAPU Wins Grant to Build Bible AI Assistant

LAPU is awarded a $15,000 Ministry Insights Grant from the American Bible Society to Build a First-of-Its-Kind Bible Engagement Assistant

In a time when Bible sales are increasing but engagement is declining, especially among young adults, Los Angeles Pacific University is stepping into the gap with innovation, intention, and faith.

We’re thrilled to announce that LAPU has received a $15,000 Ministry Insights Grant from the American Bible Society to fund the development of a groundbreaking new resource: the Bible Engagement Assistant - a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to help Millennial and Gen Z students engage more deeply with Scripture.

This grant marks LAPU’s third recent funding award, underscoring the university’s growing leadership at the intersection of Christian higher education and educational technology.

What is the Bible Engagement Assistant?

Building on the success of LAPU’s existing AI course assistant, Spark, the Bible Engagement Assistant will guide students in reflective conversations that prompt deeper interaction with biblical texts.

Rather than simply providing answers, the tool uses a Socratic approach - encouraging learners to ask questions, reflect, and apply Scripture to their lives through personalized AI-powered dialogue. It will be piloted in select online Bible courses and offered as a recommended learning tool.

Why This Matters

This initiative addresses a critical and timely need: while Gen Z and Millennials show spiritual curiosity, research shows they often lack structured pathways for meaningful Scripture engagement. LAPU’s solution leverages technology and invites students into deeper, more thoughtful exploration of Scripture.

In the words of Dr. Brant Himes, principal investigator of the grant research project, the goal is to “empower individuals to engage with the timeless and life-changing truths of the Bible” through technology that feels accessible and relevant to today’s learners.

Research-Driven and Scalable

The project will be evaluated through a randomized controlled trial, comparing outcomes in Bible courses with and without the AI assistant. Using the American Bible Society’s Scripture Engagement Scale, the study will measure changes in frequency, emotional connection, and behavioral application of Scripture.

Insights will be shared with the larger Christian academic community through journal publication, professional conferences, and LAPU’s outreach channels - creating a ripple effect far beyond our digital campus.

What’s Next?

The development of the Bible Engagement Assistant is already underway, with testing and course integration planned for Fall 2025. After one semester of use and evaluation, the tool could expand to other courses, alumni resources, or even public-facing platforms - further advancing LAPU’s mission of Christ-centered, innovative education.

Stay tuned as we share updates, stories, and outcomes from this inspiring new chapter.