About SHINE by New Apostolic Church Canada
The New Apostolic Church Canada (NAC Canada) is a community driven by faith, unity, and the love of God, where people align their lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in preparation for His return. SHINE is NAC Canada’s most significant Pan-American Youth Summit in a decade, attracting nearly 1,000 youth from across the world to Brock University near Niagara Falls. The summit is a unique gathering focused on friendship, fellowship, and faith.
Industry: Church
Key Languages: English (US), French (Canada), Portuguese (Brazilian), and Spanish (Mexico)
Langauge Challenge
Organizing SHINE, a large-scale event with nearly 1,000 attendees from diverse linguistic backgrounds, presented several complex challenges:
Language Diversity and Communication Gaps: The SHINE summit is a platform for deep, meaningful interactions. However, the language diversity among attendees could isolate participants. In sessions where participants couldn't understand the language being spoken, they risk feeling excluded, diminishing their ability to fully participate in discussions, workshops, and services. This barrier could not only affect their personal experience but also undermine the event’s goal of fostering a sense of global community and unity in faith.
Logistical and Financial Constraints: Traditional interpretation methods would have required hiring over 40 interpreters for multiple concurrent sessions, costing over $112,000. The logistical demands of accommodating these interpreters on a university campus, including setting up booths and managing equipment, were impractical and time-consuming.
Delays and Disruptions: Consecutive interpretation, where speakers pause for translation, would have disrupted the flow of communication, diluting the impact of the message. This would detract from the immersive and meaningful experience NAC Canada aimed to create.
Technological Complexity: Traditional interpretation setups involving headsets, microphones, and audio channels would have added further complexity, potentially leading to technical failures that could hinder communication and confuse participants.
Cultural and Dialectal Sensitivity: The nuances of regional dialects and cultural expressions within each language required a solution that could go beyond standardized translations to convey the full emotional and contextual meaning.
Faced with these challenges, NAC Canada needed an innovative, cost-effective solution to deliver high-quality, real-time translation across multiple languages without the logistical burdens and interruptions of traditional methods.
Solution
Byrdhouse AI was the high-quality, real-time translation and interpretation solution that NAC Canada needed. Leveraging cutting-edge AI-powered real-time translation technology, Byrdhouse AI provided seamless, human-like speech-to-speech translation across four key languages: English (US), French (Canada), Portuguese (Brazilian), and Spanish (Mexico).
The real-time translation was not just accurate—it was tailored. Byrdhouse AI worked closely with NAC Canada to incorporate domain-specific terminologies, including catechism and other church-related content, into the translation model. This customization ensured that translations were contextually relevant, enhancing understanding and engagement. The result was a 90% accuracy rate, with French-speaking participants reporting near-perfect translations.
“Byrdhouse AI was transformational for us. It made the impossible possible—allowing everyone at NAC to come together, communicate, and connect in their native languages. The translation was instant, accurate, and so natural that it felt like magic. It’s not just a tool; it’s a bridge that brought our community closer together, regardless of language.” – Mike St. Denis
But Byrdhouse AI didn’t stop at accuracy. Understanding the nuances of regional dialects and accents, the solution was fine-tuned to accommodate the specific linguistic needs of the attendees. Whether it was the unique inflections of Canadian French or the distinct cadence of Brazilian Portuguese, Byrdhouse AI delivered translations that felt native, ensuring that cultural expressions were faithfully preserved.
The technology also featured advanced voice avatars and large language models (LLMs), which provided a natural and engaging listening experience. Attendees didn’t hear robotic voices; they heard interpretations that felt as though they were delivered by a human, capturing the emotional tone and intent of the original speakers.
“Language is no longer a barrier. With Byrdhouse AI, we could connect and share our experiences as if we all spoke the same language. It was a powerful reminder that we are all united in faith, despite our different backgrounds.” – Spanish-speaking attendee
For divine services, Byrdhouse AI offered a hybrid approach, supporting human interpretation channels alongside AI-powered translation. Human interpreters could broadcast their translations directly through the platform, with AI seamlessly taking over when human interpreters were unavailable. This flexibility ensured that no message was lost, and no attendee was left out.
“This solution was a lifesaver. It saved us countless hours and effort that would have gone into setting up traditional interpretation systems. The fact that we could rely on Byrdhouse AI for both human and AI-powered translation in real time was a huge win for us.” – Mike St. Denis
Impact
Deepened Connections and Community Unity
Byrdhouse AI’s 90% accurate, AI-powered real-time translation enabled NAC Canada to transcend language barriers, fostering deeper relationships and understanding among a diverse, multilingual audience. Participants could engage in, workshops, and services, building meaningful connections that went beyond words.
“After months of planning and testing this application with Byrdhouse, it was an emotional experience for me to witness the software working with our participants in real-time and with accuracy. It was a total success!” – Mike St. Denis
Significant Cost and Time Savings
Byrdhouse AI’s solution eliminated the need for 40+ interpreters and costly interpretation equipment, resulting in savings of over $112K - where did this calculation come from? for the SHINE summit. The platform’s simplicity and efficiency also reduced setup time to mere minutes, allowing the event team to focus on delivering an exceptional experience rather than worrying about logistical challenges.
“It was incredible! Byrdhouse AI allowed our global participants to actively attend workshops regardless of the language of the presenter. They could listen to the presentation in their preferred language simply by connecting with their smartphone. We avoided the use and cost of clumsy AV gear and provided our attendees with an inclusive solution that removed everyday language barriers.” – Mike
Enhanced Event Experience with Domain-Focused Translations
Byrdhouse AI’s domain-focused, real-time translation ensured that all participants could access content in their native languages, with cultural nuances and dialects accurately reflected. This not only increased participant satisfaction but also enhanced the overall impact of the event, making it truly inclusive and accessible.
Flexible Interpretation with Human and AI Synergy
Byrdhouse AI provided a versatile solution that allowed NAC Canada to seamlessly integrate human interpreters with AI-powered translation. This hybrid approach ensured that emotional tone and speaker intent were conveyed effectively during divine services, enriching the spiritual experience for all attendees.
Effortless Implementation
The ease of use and rapid setup of Byrdhouse AI’s platform were standout features. In just 10 minutes, the summit was fully equipped with real-time translation across four languages, making it one of the most efficiently run large-scale multilingual events NAC Canada has ever hosted.
“Setting it up was a breeze. We went from no translation to real-time translation in four languages in just 5 minutes. The user experience was so intuitive—attendees just scanned a QR code, and they were instantly connected to the translation they needed.” – Matt
Conclusion
The collaboration between Byrdhouse AI and New Apostolic Church Canada for the SHINE Youth Summit demonstrated the transformative power of AI-powered real-time translation in overcoming language barriers and enhancing community engagement. By providing accurate, contextually relevant, and culturally sensitive translations, Byrdhouse AI enabled participants to connect on a deeper level, regardless of their native language.
The success of this partnership went beyond just meeting logistical needs; it enriched the spiritual and communal experience of nearly 1,000 attendees from diverse backgrounds. The implementation of Byrdhouse AI’s solution not only saved significant costs and time but also ensured that the summit remained inclusive and accessible to all. The hybrid approach of integrating human interpretation with AI-powered translation provided flexibility, ensuring that no message was lost, and every participant felt heard and understood.
This case study underscores the potential of AI to create meaningful connections in global communities, proving that with the right technology, language is no longer a barrier to unity and shared experiences. Byrdhouse AI’s solution was not just a technological innovation but a bridge that brought NAC Canada’s vision of faith and fellowship to life on a global scale.
