Based in Austin, Texas, WORDsearch has been producing software and electronic books for the Christian market since 1987. The company offers more than 4,200 volumes of electronic books for pastors, Bible teachers and laypeople through its WORDsearch, Bible Explorer, LESSONmaker, WORDsearchToGo and InstaVerse software products.

WORDsearch and QuickVerse software simplifies biblical research, allowing a user to view multiple reference materials, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries and encyclopedias side-by-side on the screen. Other QuickVerse software products include SermonBuilder, which provides access to thousands of Bible-related stories, quotes and anecdotes, as well as various biblical tools, sermons and articles.

"There is unprecedented growth in practically every area of digital media, and we continue to seek opportunities to leverage these technologies in spiritually-transforming ways," said Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LCR. "By bringing the strengths of WORDsearch and QuickVerse into the LifeWay portfolio of Christ-centered resources, we offer customers a more robust collection of kingdom tools."

Randy Beck, president of WORDsearch, said that the company has had "a strategic business relationship" with LifeWay for many years. "This acquisition is simply a logical next step in that growing relationship," he said.

The acquisition of the two companies comes at the heels of the recent launch of a new LifeWay Web site and MyStudyBible.com, an initiative to get more people to study the Bible deeply. LCR also recently launched more than 25 mobile applications.

Existing users of WORDsearch and QuickVerse products will not be impacted by the acquisition, company officials said.