Scott Beck of Boulder, Colorado, the founder and CEO of Gloo, said he believes that AI is simply a tool that when used properly has the potential to benefit human flourishing — “as God intended”.
Beck said, “We don’t believe that God is surprised by AI. Don’t think that He was surprised by the printing press. I don’t think He was surprised by television. Don’t think He was surprised by the internet.”
Gloo is a technology platform that has launched the algorithm-based “AI & the Church” initiative. As Beck explained, “it’s designed to release the power of God’s grace and mercy, love and justice, compassion and caring.”
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“What I’m talking about are not only all the churches, but also all those other ministries, the campus ministries, the relationship ministries, the marriage ministries, financial, vocational recovery, behavioral health, suicide prevention, all those other ministries,” he said.
For example, let’s say someone is having trouble in their marriage and starts searching the web for answers. The AI algorithm could direct that person not to divorce lawyers — but to faith-based marriage counselors.
Gloo has more than 38,000 churches and congregations already signed up for access to Gloo’s “AI & the Church.”
Also, imagine a depressed teen searches a site for advice about living or dying. Then imagine that within less than a minute, that same teen gets a phone call from a pastor of a nearby church asking to have a talk about life — and to be a listening ear.
This is what Beck said he’s working to create through Gloo. It already has more than 38,000 churches signed up for access to Gloo’s “AI & the Church” — with more than 100 joining each day.
The Gloo website shares information about its “AI and the Church Initiative.” (Gloo)
Pastor Eric Parks, lead pastor of Forest City Church in Illinois and a member of the teaching team at Plum Creek Church in Colorado, was one of the first to sign up.
He is full of praise but noted his reservations regarding its limitations.
Parks said, “I believe that God created us to thrive. If you look at what Jesus promises, life with Him — that there is a fullness in Him. And so can AI create that? No. Not according to my theology. That comes from a relationship with Christ.”
However, he also said, “Can AI put tools in front of me and in people that I love that may help move us toward flourishing? Yeah.”
Parks said he is astounded at AI’s ability to not only analyze his sermon but then create, in very little time, 10 questions for small group discussions.
“Oh gosh, yes, I could use that often,” he said.
Parks also said he is particularly hopeful about AI’s ability to help people who are struggling, who may have emotional issues and who could be suicidal.
He recounted with anguish, “How often have I presided over a funeral of a 22-year-old kid who, you’ll make the statement, ‘If we only had known that you were struggling.’”
Mental health professionals say there are clues that friends and family of a suicide victim see only in hindsight.
But Beck said that AI has the ability to pick up those very same clues — days, if not weeks, earlier.
Said Beck, “One of the things that we can do then is we immediately apply AI to listen to the message. And if the message has got the keywords such as ‘suicide’ or, you know, ‘I want to end my life,’ or those types of things, within a moment we’re able to go ahead and route those people into a suicide prevention ministry. Or we may also then route those people into a relationship ministry or into a local church.” READ MORE.
