Dan Parr’s path serves as an example of the strength of fortitude, direction, and inventiveness. Dan has devoted his life to making difficult concepts understandable and relevant, from conquering obstacles in early life to tackling personal and professional crises. He has spent years creating a rendition of Scripture that resonates strongly with contemporary audiences as the publisher and narrator of the Easy to Understand, Read Bible (EUR). In this interview, Dan shares his own tale of tenacity, his creative communication style, and his goal of assisting people in confronting difficult realities in an understandable and relevant manner.

Dan, thank you for joining us. Can you start by introducing yourself—who you are, what you do, and what motivates your work in publishing and narrating the EUR Bible?

Thank you for having me—it’s a real honor to share more about my journey and what drives the work I’m doing today.

Over the past five years, I’ve gone from being a reluctant Bible publisher and narrator to becoming a full-time ambassador for God’s Word. I say that only half-jokingly, because I honestly began this work with a good amount of resistance, with plenty of protesting and complaining. But apparently God found that more amusing than persuasive!

It all started when I reworded a small section of Scripture to create a video for friends and family on Facebook. That was it. But in His own unmistakable way, God used that small beginning to spark a much bigger vision in me—a passion to help people understand the Bible more clearly.

From that humble start, what unfolded was the Easy to Understand, Read Bible (EUR)—a fresh translation designed to remove the barriers many people feel when reading traditional versions (no more “thee,” “thou,” “farthings,” and “mites” type of language). But I never set out to create a new Bible. It wasn’t on my radar. Yet God clearly had other plans and used the gifts He’d placed in me—writing, narration, and a heart for accessibility—to make something I could never have imagined.

At the heart of it all, what motivates me is this: helping people who’ve felt intimidated or disconnected from Scripture finally experience its life-changing power in a way they can truly understand.

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Your early life included challenges that could have shaped your path differently. How have those experiences influenced your sense of purpose and the work you do today?

When my mother was pregnant with me, she was going through a really dark time. She had been suffering from terrible migraines and was on strong prescription medications. So when she found out she was pregnant, she was terrified about what kind of effect those drugs might’ve had on the baby she was now carrying.

She brought her concerns to her doctor, and instead of reassuring her, he basically confirmed her worst fears. He told her the medications came with a whole list of potential side effects—serious birth defects, developmental issues, all kinds of complications. He strongly advised her to abort me, as he was sure I would be born with some kind of severe condition.

Of course, she was heartbroken when she heard that. But she and my father began to pray like never before. Eventually they came to the place where they believed that if God allowed her to become pregnant, then He must have a reason. And even if I were born with special needs, they would trust that God would make a way for them to care for me.

So, they chose life. And when I was born, they checked me over—and I had all my fingers and toes. Over the next several months, they watched closely, and by God’s grace, I was developing just as I should.

When I was old enough to understand that story, it left a deep impression on me. It made me realize that I wasn’t here by accident. If God spared my life and brought me into the world against the odds, then He must have a purpose for me. It planted the seed that I was created on purpose and for a purpose.

But, I didn’t walk that purpose perfectly. I grew up in church, but after some issues in the congregation, my family stopped attending—and I drifted away for many years. But one thing I’ve learned: God is persistent. He keeps pursuing us. And through a series of events—some painful, some amusing—He brought me back to Him. That early sense of purpose has never left me, and today it’s clear, especially through the EUR Bible.

So it all made me realize that if God can take a scared young mom in a dark place and turn that into a testimony of life, then He can use anyone to bring hope, healing, and truth to others.

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You’ve faced significant life events, including natural disasters and professional setbacks. How did these moments serve as turning points in your personal and professional journey?

I’ve always been amazed at how God can take what seems like devastation and somehow bring beauty from the ashes. Two events come to mind that, at the time, felt like losses—but turned out to be major turning points in my journey.

The first was when I was around 13 years old. A flood swept through our neighborhood and forced us to evacuate by boat. We lost nearly everything. It was a horrible experience—but what stuck with me the most happened a few days later. Out of the blue, some people from that church we hadn’t attended in years showed up at our door with a generous cash gift for my parents. I was shocked. We hadn’t gone there in a long time. I couldn’t understand why they would help us. So that stuck with me.

Fast forward five years—I was running a small video side business and had just finished a job that paid me $100. I didn’t need the money at the time, and for some reason, I thought, “I’m going to give this to that church—as a way of saying thank you for what they did after the flood.”

The plan was simple: sneak into the back on a Sunday service, drop the gift in the offering plate, and slip out. But when my sister saw me dressed up on a Sunday morning, she figured out where I was going and said, “Wait—I’ll come with you.” So there went my plan for sneaking out early. And then, after we got home, our neighbors were over and they said, “We heard you went to church—we’ve been wanting to go. We’ll go with you next week.” So, next week I was there again, and God kept bringing me back each week. So my faith started growing as I listened to the messages each Sunday. Something began shifting in me. That turned into a deeper relationship with God that would later help me when I faced even greater challenges.

The other event was years later, when I was working in a senior management role at a Fortune 500 company when I was suddenly laid off due to corporate downsizing. It was a major blow. But instead of panicking, I felt a strange sense of peace. That faith I had been building all those years gave me the ability to pause and ask God, “What do You want me to do now?”

I didn’t get an audible answer—but over time, I began to sense a new direction forming. It wasn’t instant, and it wasn’t what I expected. But step by step, I found myself being led into the work I’m doing now—publishing and narrating a Bible that helps people understand Scripture in a way that’s clear, relatable, and life-changing.

Looking back, both the flood and the layoff were bad, but now I see how God used them for my benefit and they were actually His way of redirecting my life toward something far more meaningful than I could have planned for myself. What seemed devastating at the time He used for my good, and I’m incredibly thankful for it.

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Developing the EUR Bible took over four years of dedication. Can you share what inspired you to create this translation and the process of bringing it to life?

I had worked in radio before and done voiceover work on the side for years, so the idea of recording parts of the Bible had crossed my mind, but I always brushed it aside. I knew how much time and effort it would take just to narrate one book of the Bible, let alone more. So, I kept putting it off.

But when God starts leading you down a path, and He keeps nudging you in the same direction, it eventually becomes harder not to obey. I reached a point where I realized: I was only making myself miserable by resisting what He was calling me to do.

When I finally said yes, I began looking for a Bible version I could legally record—something in the public domain. I came across the King James Version, but honestly, I felt the language was just too archaic. Beautiful, yes—but difficult to understand for most modern listeners. Then I found the World English Bible (WEB), which was a big improvement, but even it felt like it could be clearer and more accessible.

That’s when the vision really started to take shape. I thought, “What if I could record a version that everyday people could listen to and instantly understand?” I wanted someone to hear Scripture and say, “Oh… now I get it.”

So I rolled up my sleeves and got to work—starting with the WEB as a foundation, and going through the entire Bible, line by line, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, across all 66 books. I reworded for clarity, adjusted sentence structure, and simplified words that I felt were barriers to understanding, all while doing my best to preserve the original meaning and spirit of the text. My goal was simple: lower the entry point so that people who felt intimidated by the Bible could read and understand it.

Now, I didn’t start out planning to do the whole Bible. Even as God was leading me in that direction, I pushed back. I remember telling Him more than once, “God, we don’t need another Bible translation, we’ve already got plenty!”

But after a while, I heard Him say, not audibly, but unmistakably in His gentle but firm way, “Dan, why don’t you let Me decide what’s needed and what’s not.”

That was the moment I stopped whining and arguing and really got to work. It took four years of steady effort, prayer, and obedience—but eventually, the Easy to Understand, Read Bible was completed.

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Making Scripture accessible to modern readers requires careful balance. How did you approach this challenge while staying true to the essence of the original texts?

That was actually one of my biggest concerns and a major reason why I initially protested so much. I told God, “I’m not a theologian, I’m not a Bible scholar. How can I do this?” But that didn’t seem to faze Him. He reminded me that the gospel was first spread by ordinary, everyday people—fishermen, tax collectors, etc., and if He could use them, He could certainly use me.

So, with a lot of prayer and patience, I dove into the work.

There were many times when I felt frustrated, asking, “How am I supposed to say this? What does this really mean?” But each time, God would guide me, leading me to other translations or commentaries that helped shed light on the passage. That’s really how I approached it.

Throughout the process, I consulted at least a dozen major Bible translations, making sure what I was putting in aligned with their understanding and with the historic interpretation of the text. The last thing I wanted was to get something wrong or misrepresent God’s Word.

It’s a sacred text and deserves to be handled with reverence and care. I certainly felt the weight of that responsibility every step of the way.

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Many readers have shared that the EUR Bible has renewed their connection to Scripture. How does it feel to know your work is impacting people in such a personal and transformative way?

Honestly, that’s not something I could ever take credit for. If someone has been touched or transformed through the EUR Bible, that’s God speaking directly to their heart. He is the artist, I’m just the paintbrush He chose to use.

All the same, I’m deeply humbled and grateful that He would let me play even a small part in helping people reconnect with His Word. Hearing someone say, “This helped me understand Scripture for the first time” or “This brought me back to Christ” is overwhelming in the best way. It’s an honor—and a constant reminder that when we give God our small obedience, He can do far more with it than we ever imagined.

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How do you approach problem-solving and developing new ways to communicate complex ideas clearly?

That was definitely a challenge. The Bible is transformative, and anyone who approaches it with an open mind and heart will be changed by it. I wanted to be sure I didn’t get in the way of God working through the text. Prayer was a huge part of the process. I constantly asked God to guide my word choices and how I framed sentences and verses.

We’re incredibly fortunate to live in a time where we have access to 2,000 years of theologians, pastors, thinkers, and writers who have shared their insights. Their wisdom helps us better understand what’s happening in any given passage.

My role was to take all of that and find a way to say it so clearly that even someone who’s never read the Bible before, or doesn’t know anything about God or Jesus, can grasp it easily.

I’m grateful to have multiple sources to draw from as I worked to make the message as clear and accessible as possible.

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Beyond publishing, narration plays a key role in how your audience experiences the text. How do you bring the content to life in a way that engages and resonates with listeners?

As a voice actor for several years, I’ve had plenty of time to develop my delivery and style. To me, the Bible is the most important piece of literature ever written—it stands miles above everything else.

As a Christian, I saw narrating the EUR Bible as a love offering to God. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if anyone would listen. I was doing it mainly as a way to express my appreciation for all He’s done in my life.

The power is in the text itself—not necessarily in my performance. All I could do was give it my best shot and trust that the message would land where it needed to. The Scripture carries its own weight, and my role is simply to bring it forward with sincerity.

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Looking back on your professional and personal journey, what habits, principles, or perspectives have supported your resilience and growth?

There are three key things that have been absolutely essential for me: being in the Word daily, praying daily, and being part of a faithful Christian community.

Reading the Bible is fundamental to life in Christ. It’s God’s revealed message to us, offering guidance, encouragement, and a clear picture of His great love for us. When I’m not in the Word, I’m not actively trying to hear from God… and I desperately need to hear from Him.

Praying every day (really, multiple times throughout the day) is just as critical. God has always pursued a relationship with us, and like any good relationship, communication is vital. I talk to Him about everything, and the amazing thing is He loves it! The Bible tells us we are His prized creation, deeply loved by Him. What good Father wouldn’t want His greatly loved children to talk to Him often?

Finally, the Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation. We need one another. God has gifted each of us with unique abilities meant to be used in community. We can only fully experience and grow in God’s purposes when we live in obedience to Him—which includes walking alongside other believers. They help round out our faith and support us in becoming all God has called us to be.

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What message or guidance would you offer to others who may be facing setbacks, searching for clarity, or looking to turn challenges into meaningful opportunities?

So many times in my life, when something difficult happens, my first thought is, “This is terrible!” But time and again, God has taken those broken pieces and created something beautiful out of them.

The Bible reminds us in Romans 8 that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. That doesn’t mean everything that happens to us is good—far from it. But because He is sovereign over all, He can masterfully take even the hardest situations and, over time, use them for our benefit.

We may never fully understand why certain difficulties and challenges come our way, but we can be certain that even in tragedy, God is able to bring good. My advice is simple: stay close to God. He loves you deeply and desires a relationship with you. Turn to Him, let Him do His transformative work in your life, and watch in awe at what He can do.

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If you were to write your bio in your own words, what would you say? What legacy do you hope to leave?

I believe the greatest thing anyone could say about a person is this: They knew and followed Jesus. They pointed others to Him. They lived their life for Him.

I’m not the main character in this story—He is. Once that became clear to me, life took on a whole new meaning. Jesus provides abundant joy and peace when we step aside and let Him lead.

If people could say that about me—that I truly followed Him and helped others find Him—then I would consider my work complete.

And that’s why I invite anyone searching for hope, understanding, or a deeper connection with God to listen to the Easy to Understand, Read Bible. It’s a way to make the Scripture come to life in a way that’s clear, relatable, and accessible to everyone. My hope is that through this work, many people will become engaged with God’s Word and experience the transformative love of Christ for themselves.