In this episode of the New Printing Press , Mike and Drew Dickens discuss the intersection of AI and spirituality. They explore the historical relationship between technology and the church, from the printing press to radio and stained glass. Drew shares his background in ministry and his recent work on the effects of generative AI on spiritual direction and divine inquiry.

They also discuss the fear and skepticism surrounding AI, including concerns about bias and the existential and theological threats it may pose. The conversation touches on the potential for AI to replace human roles and the ethical implications of AI in the church.

The conversation explores the tension between the practical tools of AI and the ethical and theological implications for Christians.

The hosts discuss how Christians can navigate this tension and how pastors and ministry leaders can approach AI in their work.

They also touch on the recent cultural impact of AI, such as the use of AI-generated images in politics and the challenges of AI as evidence in the legal field. The conversation emphasizes the need for pastors to understand the pastoral implications of AI and engage in meaningful conversations about its use in the church.

00:00 - Introduction and Background
08:20 - Drew's Dissertation on Generative AI and Spirituality
15:18 - Fear and Skepticism Surrounding AI
25:55 - Existential and Theological Threats of AI
34:31 - Ethical Implications of AI in the Church
41:01 - Navigating the Tension: Practical Tools vs. Ethical and Theological Implications of AI
49:31 - The Pastoral Implications of AI: A Call for Meaningful Conversations
57:49 - Cultural Impact: AI-Generated Images in Politics and the Need for Discernment
01:05:57 - AI as Evidence: The Reliability and Authenticity Question

About Drew Dickens
Drew's vision for Encounter is for it to be a safe space to experience and engage the word of God amid the noise of our daily routines. He yearns for a world rejoicing in hope, resisting fear, being patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer and meditation in the Word of God (Romans 12:12). Before founding Encounter in the summer of 2018, Drew was the Director of Content for the Abide Meditation app and President/CEO of Need Him Global Ministries for twenty years. 

Drew is a graduate of Baylor University. He received his master's degree summa cum laude from Dallas Theological Seminary and is completing his doctorate in Theological Anthropology from Southern Methodist University. 

Seth Trout and Michael Whittle explore the power of technology as a tool to extend our reach and impact as Christians. Just as podcasts and social media allow us to share spiritual truths beyond the walls of the church, artificial intelligence can be harnessed to accelerate and scale our ministry efforts. However, we must approach AI with wisdom and discernment, using it to supplement, not replace, the human touch and relational aspects that are central to the Gospel. As we navigate this new frontier, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and seek to honor Him in all that we create.

The New Printing Press is presented by Pulpit AI

Join us in this episode of the New Printing Press, where we talk church, technology, discipleship, and preaching with Daniel Fernandez.

A pastor's kid with a rich background in ministry, Daniel shares his journey from Los Angeles to Baton Rouge and back again, discussing his experiences in youth ministry, higher education, and his budding barbecue business.

He offers deep insights into the current landscape of preaching and the value of substance over style, and he tackles the complex balance between anonymity and prominence in ministry.

Along the way, we explore the role of technology and AI in shaping the future of the church and discipleship.

Chapters
[00:00] Introduction
[03:45] Background and Ministry Journey
[10:20] Preaching: Substance vs. Style
[18:55] The Path to Effective Preaching
[25:30] The Role of Discipleship
[40:05] Anonymity vs. Prominence
[50:15] Technology and AI in Ministry
[01:05:00] Closing Thoughts

In this episode of The New Printing Press Michael Whittle sits down with Pastor Tyler Gorsline from A Seattle Church to explore the unique spiritual landscape of Seattle and the innovative ways in which his church is reaching and discipling the city's transient and diverse population.

The episode dives into the challenges and opportunities of integrating technology, specifically AI, in modern ministry.

Pastor Tyler shares his journey from church planting to leading a thriving community and offers insightful perspectives on embodying pastoral care in an increasingly digital world.

Chapters:
0:00 - 3:10 | Introduction and Personal Notes
3:11 - 10:30 | Introducing Pastor Tyler Gorsline
10:31 - 16:45 | Navigating Seattle's Unique Church Landscape
16:46 - 24:15 | Church Planting & Transition Phases
24:16 - 30:35 | Embracing Technology and AI
30:36 - 38:10 | Philosophical Framework on Technology
38:11 - 45:45 | Discipleship and Formation in a Digital World
45:46 - 52:20 | Future Challenges and Realities
52:21 - 54:00 | Closing Remarks

In this captivating episode, Mike sits down with Pastor Adam Mesa for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of church innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and discipleship. As they talk about Pastor Adam's journey and his church's bold transition to a new name, a clear vision emerges: harnessing the power of technology to become better disciple makers.

Through their engaging conversation, Pastor Adam and Mike explore the exciting possibilities that AI brings to the church. They envision AI as a powerful supplement, enhancing preaching and content creation while maintaining the importance of authenticity and personal study. Pastor Adam shares valuable insights from his colleagues in ministry, revealing a positive sentiment towards AI, especially among millennial pastors and younger generations who are eager to embrace this transformative tool.

As the discussion unfolds, the key to successfully implementing AI in churches becomes clear: transparency. Pastor Adam emphasizes the significance of pastors openly sharing anecdotes and explanations with their congregations, fostering trust and understanding. Remarkably, the use of AI in churches is not a divisive issue among millennials, who are open-minded and ready to explore its potential.

Innovation takes center stage as Pastor Adam and Mike examine the dynamics of multi-generational churches. They highlight the driving force behind progress: a deep-seated passion for the next generation and an unwavering commitment to leveraging technological advancements while keeping the gospel at the heart of their mission.

The impact of long-form podcasts, such as Beyond the Letter and Beyond I Do, is a testament to the power of innovative outreach. These podcasts have not only reached and discipled the congregation but have also sparked viral clips that draw people to the church, igniting life-changing conversations.

Takeaways:
1. Technology, including AI, can be a powerful supplement to enhance preaching and content creation in the church while maintaining authenticity and personal study.

2. There is a growing positive sentiment towards AI among Pastor Adam's colleagues in ministry, with millennial pastors and younger generations embracing it as a tool for reaching and discipling the next generation.

3. Transparency is crucial when implementing AI in churches, with pastors openly sharing anecdotes and explanations to foster trust and understanding among their congregations.

4. The use of AI in churches is not a divisive issue among millennials, who are open to exploring its potential.

5. Innovation in multi-generational churches is driven by a passion for the next generation and a commitment to leveraging technological advancements while keeping the gospel at the center.

6. Long-form podcasts, like Beyond the Letter and Beyond I Do, have demonstrated their impact in reaching and discipling the congregation, with viral clips drawing people to the church and sparking life-changing conversations.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Background
03:22 - Transition to a New Church Name
06:07 - Focus on Helping People with Physical and Spiritual Needs
09:46 - Early Adoption of Technology, including AI
12:26 - Theological and Philosophical Frameworks about AI
14:21 - Using Technology as a Supplement in Preaching & Content Creation
17:24 - The Positive Sentiment Towards AI in the Church
18:57 - Embracing AI: Reaching and Discipling the Next Generation
25:38 - Transparency and Honest Anecdotes: Implementing AI in Churches
31:01 - Innovation in Multi-Generational Churches
35:40 - Long-Form Podcasts: Impactful Tools for Reaching and Discipling

In this conversation, Mike interviews Pastor Adam Smallcombe, the lead pastor of  @ViveChurchtv   about his journey from Australia to the US and the innovative work he is doing in the church.

They discuss the importance of balancing innovation with pastoral care and discipleship, the challenges of starting a church in Silicon Valley, and the need for hard work and health in ministry.

They also touch on the topic of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the church.

Chapters
03:22 - The Unique Innovation of Vive Church
09:38 - The Challenges and Opportunities of Starting a Church in Silicon Valley
13:23 - High Caliber People and High Capacity People Drawn to Vision
18:26 - Building a Healthy Church: High Expectations and Well-being
26:49 - The Mandate for Innovation in Every Church and Pastor
32:41 - The Potential Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Church

This week we talk to Stephen “Swebb” Webb, ex-Elevation Church, current ministry consultant, who loves nothing more than bringing tough love to ministry people.

Listen for:
⛪ Church culture, good and bad (why do we do it like this?)
👀 Some people get into ministry to stop working (broooooo)
🤬 Swebb slightly loses control and goes off on weird ministry stuff
🚫 Stuff we need to stop saying (healthy things grow, building the airplane in flight, and more)
😎 A real recipe for ministry success (you might not like it)

About Swebb (https://www.swebb.fyi/)
Coaching Church Leaders Worldwide – For over two decades, he has coached leaders and church staff. He believes that leadership development and building the Church are more art than science. Many love to peddle the idea that formulas and handbooks are necessary, but if that were the case, you wouldn't be reading this. He can provide some cheat codes (and loves to) but admits there’s not a “one size fits all” answer.

So, he coaches and trains in an increasingly rare activity many people outsource: thinking. He has a long history of building successful and sustainable ministries, leaders, and teams through people.

Most simply put, he builds leaders who build teams who build the Church.

Michael talks to Chris Heaslip, co-founder of Push Pay, which as far as we’re aware is one of the only faith-based business to make it to Unicorn status ($1 billion+ market cap).

(04:57 - 06:24) Embracing Failure for Innovation
(07:48 - 09:19) Embracing Risk for Growth
(13:05 - 14:00) Explaining Success to Skeptical Audiences
(17:47 - 18:36) Utilizing Technology for Church Outreach
(20:18 - 21:45) Engaging Online Audiences for Outreach
(25:34 - 26:27) Exploring Conversations on B-Side
(29:15 - 30:17) Seeking Relevant Conversations on Christianity
(35:08 - 36:07) AI Efficiency Gains and Transformational Impact

Key Takeaways:
😬 You need to increase your failure rate so that you can discover the blessed path faster (gulp)
📈 The results you can deliver are limited to the risk you are willing to take (ouch)
🧠 Product-market fit is a myth?! How to know when you’re succeeding (spicy)
🖨️ Chris agrees with us that the printing press is the best analogue to our current technological moment (he’s smart, be like Chris)

If the idea of carefully and prayerfully learning good lessons from the business world to apply to ministry gets you very excited, then you are going to want to carve out a half-hour for this episode. Chris is dropping the kind of experience you get by, you know, being led by the Lord to build a company that ends up solving a huge problem for churches worldwide and generates a billion dollars and counting of value. 

Overflow founder and CEO Vance Roush joins the pod to discuss:
- "Faith in the Age of AI", Overflow's journey, and FlowCon.
- How to build a culture of innovation in local churches
- The rise of tech-savvy churches.
- AI-driven change in worship practices and forecasting tech's role in faith's future.
- Dispelling AI in church myths and examining how faith communities are welcoming tech innovation.

Vance Roush is the founder and CEO of Overflow and is on a mission to inspire the world to give. Overflow unlocks generosity by easily empowering nonprofits, churches, and corporations to accept non-cash donations, like stocks and crypto. He is also s pastor at VIVE Church and author of the bestselling book “High Growth Fundraising the Silicon Valley Way.”

The episode 2, Michael Whittle (co-founder of Pulpit AI) talks with Dean Sweetman, founder of Tithe.ly, who shares the journey from traditional church skepticism to embracing technology to build the church.

The conversation begins with a look back at the early days of online giving and the challenges faced in integrating technology into church practices. 

Sweetman explains how digital giving platforms like Tithe.ly have revolutionized tithing by making it seamless, thereby attracting younger, tech-savvy congregations and enabling global expansion. He emphasizes the importance of reducing transactional friction and the positive psychological effects this has on generosity.

Moving on to AI, the hosts delve into its potential applications in ministry, from pastoral care algorithms to holographic preachers. 

They discuss the ways AI can improve communication, administrative efficiency, and provide predictive analytics for donor behavior, potentially identifying church members who may need additional support. 

Sweetman encourages church leaders to embrace AI, highlighting its ability to amplify the gospel's reach while underscoring the necessity of maintaining the personal touch in ministry.