How Lakemba Anglican Church Welcomes Every Language Through Live Translation

Lakemba, in Sydney's south-west, is one of Australia's most linguistically diverse suburbs. For Lakemba Anglican Church, this diversity is both a profound opportunity and a practical challenge: how do you make the gospel truly accessible when many in your community don't speak English?

Li Liu: Attending Church Because of Live Translation

Li Liu is a Chinese community member who had long been unable to participate meaningfully in English-language church services. With Sunflower AI's live Mandarin translation displayed on her phone in real time, she can now sit alongside her family and genuinely engage with the service week after week.

In the video below, Li Liu shares in her own words what this technology has meant for her — and how it opened the door for her to be part of the Lakemba Anglican community:

A Daughter's Review: In Their Own Words

Li Liu's daughter Alexis shared their family's experience on Trustpilot. Here is what she wrote:

"Dear Sunflower AI Team, A big, heartfelt thank you for your wonderful product, which has made it possible for my mum, who has a language barrier, to be part of our church over the years. Your work has truly been a blessing to us. Despite being a non-English speaker, my mum now enjoys coming to church and is able to fully understand everything that's happening — from the services to the sermons. We're especially grateful for Chuhao's humility and willingness to listen to my mum's feedback, making thoughtful changes to better support her needs. It's been amazing to witness the continuous improvements in your services. Words cannot fully express how grateful and appreciative we are to see such powerful technology being used in a way that brings people together. May your team continue to help and uplift many more lives in all kinds of communities."

— LI LIU and Alexis

Read the original Trustpilot review →

The Pastor's Perspective

Rector of Lakemba, the Rev Matt Dodd, has spoken openly about the impact Sunflower AI has had on his church's ministry. As he told Sydney Anglicans in August 2025:

"We've had several members start attending church because of this technology. They wouldn't attend church otherwise [because they want to attend church with their family]. They speak zero English, and they're having a great time with us."

Mr Dodd is equally impressed by the accuracy of the voice recognition:

"You can whisper, you can talk fast and it will transcribe what you say with incredible accuracy. This is also a handy resource for English speakers who struggle with hearing."

He captures the moment with one memorable phrase:

"It's very exciting and we're on the cusp of something big, wonderful and terrifying at the same time."

Acts 2 in the Heart of Sydney

The vision behind Sunflower AI has always been rooted in Acts 2 — the Day of Pentecost, when people from every nation heard the gospel in their own language. In Lakemba, that vision is becoming an everyday reality.

What was once inaccessible to non-English speakers — the sermon, the prayers, the community — is now open to them. People like Li Liu are not just attending church; they are growing, engaging, and belonging.

As Sydney Anglicans reported, Sunflower AI grew from one church partner in February 2025 to around 40 churches by August and now 130+ churches across Australia and the world in April 2026.

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Disclosure: Sunflower AI's cofounder, Chuhao Liu, now is a regular attendee at Lakemba Anglican Church.