The usual options, and their drawbacks
Most churches handle a foreign guest speaker in one of three ways. The speaker preaches in English as a second language, which often flattens their message. Or a volunteer translates sentence by sentence from the front, which halves the time for the sermon and depends on how well the volunteer knows both languages. Or the church books a professional interpreter, which is excellent but usually charged per half or full day, and not always available at short notice.
Live sermon translation gives you a fourth option: the guest preaches in their own language at their own pace, and your congregation hears it in English on their phones.
How it works on the day
- 01A week before
Ask the guest what language they want to preach in. Check that the language is one ChurchTranslate translates into, and that your congregation's language is among the target languages (English is). If your congregation is mixed, switch on a second target language too.
- 02On the morning
The sound volunteer starts the broadcast as usual. Before the guest speaks, they set the speaker language to the guest's language with one tap. Your own pastor's welcome stays in English.
- 03During the sermon
The congregation listens with earbuds or reads the English captions. Because the translation follows a few seconds behind, they laugh at jokes slightly after the guest's own countrymen do. That is normal.
- 04After the sermon
Switch the speaker language back to English for the closing prayer and notices. The church archive keeps a text transcript you can correct and share.
Preparing your guest
A short briefing makes a real difference. Ask the speaker to use the microphone consistently, to finish sentences rather than trail off, and to say Bible references clearly (book, chapter, verse). Names of people and places from their own country are worth spelling out once. If they quote a hymn or a poem in their language, the translation will give the meaning, not a rhyming version.
It is also kind to tell the guest that the congregation hears them with a short delay. Some speakers pause after a punchline; others carry on. Either is fine, but it helps them read the room.
The other direction: your speaker, their congregation
The same works in reverse. When your pastor visits a partner church in Poland, Romania or Spain, the host church can listen in Polish, Romanian or Spanish while your pastor preaches in English. Because listeners only need a browser, nobody has to install anything on their side; the broadcast runs from your account, so the only practical requirements are a microphone feed and an internet connection at the venue.
When a human interpreter is still the better choice
If the guest speaker relies heavily on dialogue with the congregation, prays for individuals, or leads a time of ministry where people respond personally, a human interpreter standing next to them can follow the moment in a way software cannot. The same goes for a guest whose language is not on the list. Our comparison of interpreter and AI translation helps you decide.
Afterwards: the transcript as a resource
A guest sermon often deserves a second life. After the service, the church archive holds a text transcript in the translated language. Correct any names that came out wrong, then share it with the home group that wants to discuss it, or send it to the guest so they can see how their message landed. Listeners who asked for it already receive the transcript by e-mail in their own language, which helps those who want to look up the Bible passages the guest mentioned.
What a guest sermon costs
A 45-minute guest sermon translated into English is 45 credits; the rest of the service, in English, only costs credits for languages someone is listening to. If you do not have a plan yet, an extra credit pack of 300 credits (€50, never expires) covers several guest speakers over the year. See pricing.