Every tech advancement in ministry has pros and cons, champions and naysayers, benefits and costs. It’s not always easy for church leaders to determine what their congregants need, how to leverage their ministry’s strengths, and what strong discipleship looks like in a tech-driven world.
Recent Barna State of the Church research, in partnership with Gloo, uncovered five tech trends that show why adopting a blend of digital innovation and in-person ministry matters more than ever for leaders. Brad Hill, Chief Solutions Officer at Gloo, believes these shifts aren’t just about digital tools and strategies. They need pastors to build trust, educate their congregants, and create meaningful digital experiences that connect people to God and each other.
Brad joins Dale on today’s 95Podcast to share practical ways that Gloo supports churches of all sizes with their efforts to use technology to reach new people.
Links to Resources Mentioned or Related
- Website: Gloo.com
- Gloo Messaging (texting)
- Gloo Discover (marketplace)
- Gloo Feed (text updates)
- Church.tech
- State of the Church initiative by Barna Group and Gloo
- Email Brad
- Link to NEW! Soul Care Essentials Online: 3-Session Video Series
- Link to NEW! Soul Care Essentials Cohort: 6 Weeks of Guided Conversations for Post-Conference Groups
- 95Network – Soul Care Essentials
- 95Network – Healthy Church Assessment
- Read Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They’d Be There By Now
- Watch Podcast on YouTube
Key Takeaways
1) Christians see massive potential for churches to use digital tools effectively.
2) Churchgoers want pastors to address AI thoughtfully and wisely.
3) Gen Z may live online but still crave in-person relationships over digital connections.
4) Pastors are intentional about using tech but still prioritize relationships and collaboration as the foundation of ministry.
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