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Build the Financial and Mental Health Shock Absorbers Now (Ministry Shifts Due to AI)

In Nashville at The Art of Leadership Live, Carey Nieuwhof shared insights from his research which are included in AI and the Future Church: Make Your Ministry Irreplaceable in a World of Artificial Everything.

SHIFTS FOR THE AGE OF AI

Shift 2A: Build the Financial Shock Absorbers Now

Build the Financial Shock Absorber. Create capacity before you need it.

“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose yours.”

– Harry S. Truman

Job loss is identity loss. Often we think what we do is who we are.

We need to help people understand they are made in the image of God, discover their identity in Christ, and find their purpose in Christ BECAUSE they will probably not have the kind of job they were hoping to have.

Since we don’t know how AI will ultimately affect us, so why don’t we just prepare for disruption?

Anthropic is valued at $2 trillion because they are gunning for the $16 trillion job market.

There is a possibility that some of our people will go from unemployed to umemployable.

What if the AI stocks are a bubble? Right now, 45% of S&P Market Cap is AI Stocks.

A radically different economy requires a radically different approach to congregational giving which could include the following:

  1. Like Joseph in Egypt, save, save, save during the good years! Perhaps create an “Obstacles and Opportunities Fund.”
  2. Start new non-profits. Some people won’t give to a church, but they would give to a non-profit helping people with housing.
  3. Start new for-profits with excess funds going into ministry.
  4. Consider patronage as an option. Over the centuries, artists have been funded by patrons. When all the money ends up in fewer hands, those hands have to open wider.

The Art of the Ask: Closing a Seven Figure Donor – Prepare a visionary proposal that aligns with the donor’s identity.

Too often we hide behind the microphone asking everyone to give and not spending time with specific people who could give generously and easily.

Create a community of generosity in your church. They are often lonely as they are the only ones they know who are as succesful as they are.
Imprortant thoughts and questions:

Why do you think God has entrusted so much wealth to you?
Do you think you might have the spritual gift of giving?
What are the ways you or your family view finances and giving?

Often people feel flattered not offended when asked to give.

Shift 2B: Build the Mental Health Shock Absorbers Now

20 years in, how has social media made us better?
Young people are the most anxious generation.
We are now more divided than ever as people live in silos.
People are lonelier than ever before.

Sadly, AI will make the mental health crisis caused by social media look like a kiddie pool.
AI offers porn on steroids.

Tragically, consider the case of Sewell Setzer. Unfortunately, he’s not the only one to lose his life due in part to his interactions with AI.
72% of teenagers are using AI for normal conversations.
33% of teenagers would rather talk to AI than a person.

In an age when more people than ever don’t know how to do relationship, the church can model the way!

What happens when we trade in flawed relationships for synthetic relationships?
AI tends to tell you what you want. That’s the business model!

What happens when husbands or wives feel more understood by their AI than their spouses.

Authentic human relationships consist or rupture and repair.
All of our “heroes” in the Bible are actually flawed anti-heroes except Jesus. Even for Paul, 2 Corinthians is an apology for 1 Corinthians!

98% of pastoral care is having someone who cares. It doesn’t have to be the pastor or a therapist.
The Orangutan Theory – Even going to the zoo and talking to a monkey helps you feel better!

Spending time with others in small groups, having a couple in crisis over for dinner for several weeks in a row, or even just being a friend can be a much bigger help to the couple than you might think!

Teach on this!
Preach on this!

Community is critical!

Resources:

AI and the Future Church