The New Printing Press

Pulpit AI

Exploring the frontiers of ministry and technology, and interviewing pioneers and builders at the frontlines. We’d like to think of this podcast as a weekly coffee chat with your new ministry buddies, where we catch up, swap stories, push each other forward, and have a few laughs. Welcome to the future!

Episodes

  1. 08/26/2024

    Is AI an Existential Threat to Humanity?

    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 Background08:20 - Drew's Dissertation on Generative AI and Spirituality15:18 - Fear and Skepticism Surrounding AI25:55 - Existential and Theological Threats of AI34:31 - Ethical Implications of AI in the Church41:01 - Navigating the Tension: Practical Tools vs. Ethical and Theological Implications of AI49:31 - The Pastoral Implications of AI: A Call for Meaningful Conversations57:49 - Cultural Impact: AI-Generated Images in Politics and the Need for Discernment01:05:57 - AI as Evidence: The Reliability and Authenticity Question About Drew DickensDrew'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.

    1h 14m
  2. 04/23/2024

    How to Implement AI in Church w/ Pastor Adam Mesa

    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. Chapters00:00 - Introduction and Background03:22 - Transition to a New Church Name06:07 - Focus on Helping People with Physical and Spiritual Needs09:46 - Early Adoption of Technology, including AI12:26 - Theological and Philosophical Frameworks about AI14:21 - Using Technology as a Supplement in Preaching & Content Creation17:24 - The Positive Sentiment Towards AI in the Church18:57 - Embracing AI: Reaching and Discipling the Next Generation25:38 - Transparency and Honest Anecdotes: Implementing AI in Churches31:01 - Innovation in Multi-Generational Churches35:40 - Long-Form Podcasts: Impactful Tools for Reaching and Discipling

    41 min
  3. 04/02/2024

    Why Ministry Leaders Should Be Early Tech Adopters w/ Chris Heaslip

    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.

    38 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Exploring the frontiers of ministry and technology, and interviewing pioneers and builders at the frontlines. We’d like to think of this podcast as a weekly coffee chat with your new ministry buddies, where we catch up, swap stories, push each other forward, and have a few laughs. Welcome to the future!