Global Missional AI

Global Missional AI

Join host Joshua Seale weekly as they explore the intersection of mission work and AI. Featuring exclusive interviews with innovators using artificial intelligence to expand global impact, this podcast brings you insights from the frontlines of the Missional AI community. Discover how AI is transforming outreach with thought-provoking conversations and practical applications. Where faith and technology converge to create new possibilities for mission work in the digital age.

  1. JAN 26

    Season 1, Episode 22: Scripture for the Last Mile: Reaching the Unreached with Simple Tools

    What if the most powerful innovation isn't about bleeding-edge technology, but about using what you already have in new and strategic ways? In this episode recorded live at CV Global Digital Day in London, Joshua Seale shares Biblica's remarkable journey of digital Bible distribution—230 apps, 7 million users, half a billion Scripture engagements, and zero lines of code written by their team. But here's the real story: While 95% of all digital Scripture engagement happens in just five languages, Joshua and his team made a different choice. They focused on the last mile—the underrepresented languages where massive populations had almost no access to digital Scripture. In this episode, you'll discover: How a $2,000 experiment became a movement reaching millionsThe Ukrainian Bible app built in one day that reached 1 million users in 200 days during the warWhy digital distribution costs $0.17 vs. $12 for printed Bibles in restricted areasHow open licensing and Creative Commons unlocked exponential kingdom impactThe AI chatbot serving emerging world pastors who lack formal theological trainingWhy persistence beats perfection in innovation workThe breakthrough result: In the 20 most underrepresented languages, Biblica saw 10,000% more users than major platforms by taking a laser-focused approach on the underserved. Key Quote: "God can use the things that you have right now. Innovation isn't easy, but persistence beats perfection. What could you do with what you already have?" This is a masterclass in strategic innovation that prioritizes kingdom impact over technological sophistication.

    22 min
  2. JAN 20

    Season 1, Episode 22: The Ethics of AI: Could We, Should We, Would We? with James Poulter

    In this thought-provoking episode recorded live at CV Global Digital Day in London, James Poulter challenges us to move beyond asking "What is AI?" to wrestling with the more critical questions: How should we use it, and why? As we stand at the threshold of agentic AI—where artificial intelligence doesn't just respond but actually does the work for us—James explores the profound ethical implications for the church and kingdom work. With over a billion people now using ChatGPT daily and predictions of AI superintelligence by 2027, the future is arriving faster than most of us realize. In this episode, you'll discover: Why AI is fundamentally different from other tools (it's grown, not built)The hidden "system prompts" shaping how AI models interpret reality—including religious textsThe dangerous "trust transfer" phenomenon and why it mattersHow the church can lead in establishing ethical frameworks for AI usePractical resources including the Missional AI Community Christian AI PrinciplesJames doesn't shy away from the hard questions—from job displacement and surveillance to the possibility of AI sentience and rights. But rather than fear, he calls us to be the best users of this technology, aligned with Scripture and kingdom values. Key Quote: "We need to use it with caution. We need to use it aligned to scripture and ethics. And we need to know what we're trusting and more importantly, whom we are trusting, because these things are being grown, not made."

    23 min
  3. JAN 12

    Season 1, Episode 21: The Crisis in Nonprofit Missions: How AI Can Solve the Donor Retention Problem

    What if the greatest threat to your nonprofit isn't lack of funding or passion—but a quiet crisis happening in your donor database right now? Most nonprofit CEOs claim they have "good retention," but when you peel back the onion, the reality is sobering: organizations are losing 40% or more of their donors every single year. It's nearly impossible to build a sustainable mission when you're hemorrhaging that much support annually. In this episode, we sit down with Justin Wheeler, founder and CEO of Fundraise, a technology platform serving nonprofits globally. Before building Fundraise, Justin spent 13 years in the nonprofit trenches, co-founding organizations like Invisible Children and Liberty in North Korea. Those experiences—the frustrations with inadequate tools and the hunger for better solutions—inspired him to create purpose-built technology for the nonprofit sector. In this conversation, we explore: Why digital fundraising for nonprofits hasn't evolved like e-commerce, and what needs to changeHow AI-powered insights can identify at-risk donors before they churn and surface hidden opportunities for deeper engagementThe critical guardrails needed when using powerful personalization technology ethicallyWhy the nonprofit sector is suddenly embracing AI after years of tech resistance (hint: FOMO is real)How AI could finally solve the systemic donor retention crisis that quietly kills missionsJustin's approach isn't about replacing human connection with algorithms—it's about using AI to tell fundraisers where to focus their relational energy for maximum kingdom impact. As he puts it: "Just because you have the data doesn't mean the person is going to give. You still need to build authentic relationships." This episode is essential listening for anyone leading fundraising efforts, managing donor relationships, or wondering how AI can serve—not replace—the human heart of nonprofit work.

    16 min
  4. 12/15/2025

    Season 1, Episode 20: From Event to Movement: Vision Casting for Missional AI 2026

    Join us for a special episode recorded in Paris, where Joshua sits down with James Poulter and Éric Célérier for an intimate planning session about the future of Missional AI. Fresh from exploring the spiritual renewal happening across Europe, the team shares their vision for the 2026 summit in Silicon Valley and the evolution from an annual conference to a year-round movement.In this episode, you'll discover:The ambitious vision for Missional AI 2026: bringing 1,000 attendees to the heart of Silicon Valley-How the community has evolved into three distinct tiers: technical builders, non-technical "vibe coders," and ethics/theology thinkers-Why "intentionality" is emerging as the defining theme for 2026Plans for sustaining community year-round through podcasts, regional gatherings, and an open ecosystem-Content tracks designed for pastors, denomination leaders, developers, entrepreneurs, and AI practitioners-Eric's inspiring story of faith: investing $124,000 in JESUS.net 17 years ago and reaching over 1 billion people-The dream of creating local missional AI gatherings around the world—from cafes in Paris to meetups in SingaporeKey Quote:"If God is calling you to do something, you do it by faith, with the intention of glorifying God. You give your life, you put everything in... but you don't do it alone." - Eric CelsierWhether you're a technical developer, a church leader exploring AI, or someone called to build at the intersection of faith and technology, this episode will inspire you to take bold steps and join a global community using AI for God's kingdom.Registration is now open for Missional AI 2026 in Silicon Valley. Register here: https://missional.ai/

    25 min
  5. 12/01/2025

    Season 1, Episode 18: Building Together - The Power of Open Innovation in Faith Tech

    Here's a reformatted version with better structure and flow: What if the secret to keeping pace with AI isn't working harder, but working together? In this builder panel episode, host James Poulter sits down with three pioneers of open innovation in the faith tech space: James Kelly (Founder, Faith Tech), Ali Llewellyn (Gloo Open), and Nick Skitland (Gloo Open). As new AI models drop on Saturday afternoons and developers feel the pressure to stay current with every update, a performance culture threatens to burn out even the most passionate technologists. But there's another way. In this conversation, you'll discover: • Why "irrational generosity" is reshaping how faith-based organizations approach technology • How Faith Tech has grown to 50 cities across 18 countries, mobilizing Jesus-following developers to build Kingdom technology • The surprising story of the "Pineapple Project"—a global hackathon team that built across six continents in 48 hours • Why you don't need to be a developer to shape the future of AI (and how to get involved) • How open source principles are creating shared infrastructure, data sets, and APIs for the entire faith community • The collective might of the church vs. the limitations of individual organizations From hackathons in Jordan to community chapters in London to collaborative projects spanning time zones, this episode demonstrates that open collaboration isn't just efficient—it's fundamentally Christian. Resources mentioned: • Faith Tech: faithtech.com • Gloo Open: ai.gloo.us • Global Missional AI Summit 2026: April 7-9 in Silicon Valley (registration at missional.ai) Whether you're a technologist, ministry leader, or simply passionate about the future, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how the church can shape technology's trajectory—together.

    30 min

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About

Join host Joshua Seale weekly as they explore the intersection of mission work and AI. Featuring exclusive interviews with innovators using artificial intelligence to expand global impact, this podcast brings you insights from the frontlines of the Missional AI community. Discover how AI is transforming outreach with thought-provoking conversations and practical applications. Where faith and technology converge to create new possibilities for mission work in the digital age.