In a rapidly evolving digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant strides across multiple sectors. The church is no exception. Recently, Steve Lacy and Phil Thompson had the opportunity to attend the Gloo 2024 Hackathon in Boulder, Colorado, where the focus was on how AI can be leveraged to help the Big C Church flourish. This event brought together some of the brightest minds in the intersection of AI and ministry, fostering an environment ripe with innovation and creativity.
What is Gloo?
Gloo is an organization founded by successful entrepreneur Scott Beck with the goal of supporting churches by providing cutting-edge technological tools. Over the years, Gloo has been involved in multiple initiatives to help churches thrive. One of their most notable collaborations was with the “He Gets Us” campaign, which ran during the Super Bowl, bringing Christianity into the national conversation through well-produced, widely seen advertisements.
As AI emerged as a powerful tool in recent years, Gloo recognized its potential for church ministry. Last year, they organized their first AI hackathon, and this year, they brought together 31 teams with over 200 participants to develop AI-based solutions for two main categories: human flourishing and organizational thriving.
The Structure of the Hackathon
The hackathon took place over a weekend, where teams worked intensely from Friday to Sunday, developing AI-driven solutions to help the church better serve its community. Each project had to be presented via a 90-second video, which was then judged by an expert panel, including notable speakers such as the CEOs of Intel and YouVersion. The participants weren’t just motivated by the desire to help their communities—Gloo offered a total of $275,000 in prize money for the top innovations.
Innovative AI Solutions for Ministry
Some of the projects showcased at the hackathon were nothing short of inspiring. Here are a few that stood out:
- Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: A particularly impactful project focused on preventing suicides, especially targeting individuals at high-risk locations like the Golden Gate Bridge. Using AI, this solution aimed to reach people before they reached such desperate points, offering early mental health interventions. Mental health, particularly within the church, is increasingly becoming a topic of focus, and AI could play a crucial role in offering timely support to those in need.
- AI-Powered Journaling: Another fascinating project revolved around AI-powered journaling. This app would generate imagery based on the user’s journal entries, helping them visualize their reflections. As someone who’s tried to journal over the years, I found this to be a creative way to engage with daily reflections, especially for those who struggle with maintaining a journaling habit.
- AI Translation Tools: Two standout projects at the event focused on translation services. Both SermonShots and Pastors.ai developed AI-powered tools capable of translating sermons in real-time and providing text-based captions. The idea of breaking down language barriers and making sermons accessible to non-English speakers has massive potential to expand the reach of ministry.
One impressive feature was the ability to switch between languages mid-sermon, with a smooth transition between English and Spanish. As the Hispanic population continues to grow in the United States, these tools can be invaluable for churches aiming to reach more diverse audiences.
- Generosity Tracking: A group of young college students developed an AI-powered tool called “Generosity,” designed to improve the giving experience by providing feedback on how contributions are being used. This project allowed donors to see the impact of their gifts on specific ministries, such as youth programs, thus creating a feedback loop that could encourage further giving.
Why Does This Matter?
For those wondering why churches should care about AI, the answer is simple: technology can make ministry more efficient, effective, and impactful. From improving mental health support to translating sermons and increasing transparency in giving, AI can help churches serve their communities better.
Many churches have been slow to adopt new technologies, often trailing behind other sectors. Scott Beck, Gloo’s founder, hopes to change that by encouraging the church to embrace AI and other digital tools. While there may still be some hesitation or fear surrounding AI, the potential it holds for enhancing ministry is undeniable. As more churches begin to experiment with AI-driven solutions, we expect to see more innovations that can help them reach and serve their communities in new and exciting ways.
Looking Forward
The Gloo 2024 Hackathon was an eye-opener for what’s possible when the best minds in AI and ministry come together. With $275,000 in prize money and a clear vision for the future, Gloo is helping pave the way for the church to thrive in a digital-first world.
And this is just the beginning. As AI continues to evolve, the church has a unique opportunity to harness its power for good, whether by helping individuals flourish or enhancing how ministries operate.
If you’re interested in learning more about AI in the church or seeing some of these innovative projects in action, stay tuned to our blog at blog.streamingchurch.tv where we’ll be sharing updates on AI’s role in ministry. Additionally, you can check out our sponsor, DailyDive365.com, which helps transform Sunday sermons into daily devotionals using AI—another project born out of last year’s hackathon.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to us at StreamingChurch.tv if you’d like more information on how AI can help your church, or if you simply want to share your thoughts on AI and ministry!