Calvary Church's Translation Audio Pack Disaster: Resolved with Simple Innovation

Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, has always embraced a diverse congregation, with over 43 nationalities represented on any given Sunday. As the international community in Charlotte grew, so did the need for translation services to ensure that worship was accessible to everyone, regardless of their native language.

Sibu Rajappan, a key leader at Calvary Church, shares the challenge they faced in this journey:

“The Bible calls us to make disciples of all nations. And for Calvary Church, that mission includes welcoming and serving people from all walks of life. For years, we had a substantial Hispanic population, and translation into Spanish became a necessity. Soon, we saw the Lord bringing people from other nationalities, including a growing Chinese and Russian population. Our challenge was how to provide translation services that could scale with our expanding congregation.”

Initially, Calvary relied on audio packs, where members would check out devices to hear translations during services. However, this system became costly and difficult to maintain. As Sibu explained, “Replacing these packs wasn’t scalable, and the wireless systems we tested didn’t suit our needs. That’s when we found a game-changer.”

With the onset of COVID-19, the church faced new hurdles. Physical attendance was limited, and the need for remote access to translation services grew. That’s when Calvary Church discovered PhoneLive.io.

“PhoneLive.io has been a blessing for us. Not only can congregants listen to translations from anywhere in the sanctuary using their cell phones, but they can also access it remotely if they’re unable to attend in person. It provides the flexibility we need, without the limitations of location or costly hardware.”

Today, Calvary Church is translating services into three languages simultaneously, with the ability to expand further at no significant additional cost. “The system is scalable, flexible, and helps us maintain our mission of welcoming everyone, no matter where they come from or what language they speak,” Sibu added.

Why This Solution Works for Calvary Church:

• Scalability: The translation system can easily grow to accommodate more languages, without additional hardware or server costs.
• Flexibility: Translators can work remotely, and listeners can tune in from anywhere inside or outside the church.
• Cost Efficiency: The system eliminates the need for replacing defective and expensive audio packs, making it an affordable long-term solution.