We're launching AI/Tech Made Easy sessions on Saturday mornings. To kick things off, I thought we'd cover how to easily create complex images like the one attached titled: Real Power Knelt Down I'll record each session, but please join in live if you can.

If you watch America's Got Talent, you may have caught the dancing robots that wowed both the judges and the crowd last night. They come from a company called Unitree. It reminded me of a stay years ago at one of the first hotels in the country to use a simple delivery robot. You could call the front desk for snacks or supplies, and the little machine would roll right up to your door. That was close to a decade ago, so it's remarkable how far the technology has come since then. Now imagine that same kind of robot rolling around your church lobby on a Sunday morning. It greets the kids as they arrive, learns their names, and challenges them with a question on the way in. "Who spent three days inside a big fish?" or "Can you finish this verse with me?" The ones who get it right light up, the ones who miss it want another shot next week, and suddenly scripture memory feels like a game they look forward to instead of homework. Pair it with a real greeter at the door and you've got the best of both, a warm human welcome and a little spark of fun that sends kids running toward their classrooms. 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗯𝘆. It's just a reminder of how quickly the world is moving, and a couple of questions worth sitting with. On one side, which new tools actually make sense for spreading the message, the way the printing press, radio, and live streaming each did in their time? And on the other, as those tools keep changing, what are the things we want to make sure never do?

Hey, I'm Todd Thornton, and I am so glad you're here. Ministry looks different for everyone. Whether you're on staff, volunteering, or just trying to make a difference, AI can help you do it better. Three things I want you to know right up front. 1) Don't just lurk. Post (1) one word in the comments. An AI tool you use, something you want to accomplish, a hidden talent. Anything. I will personally respond to every single one with my best idea for how I can help. If I'm wrong, the egg is on my face and some responses might be hilarious. 2) This is a "public" community. Everything here is visible, searchable, and shareable, even to non-members. That's on purpose. We want people to find this content. But if that's not for you, no hard feelings at all. 3) This is a link-free thread. Leave the URLs out and bring the real you. We want your thoughts, your questions, and your experience, not your bookmarks. If you are not a member you won't be able to comment or track completion in courses, but if you find something you like, just grab the link and share it freely. Posts, course pages, anything. We believe in full transparency. This is just who we are. If you're still in, let's take it one step at a time. Step one is simple. Drop only (1) ONE word in the comments below and let's see how creative Todd can get with his response.

I was at a church recently and saw a small thing that I have not stopped thinking about. Before the pastor sent everyone home, he mentioned a meeting about a new slogan the church had been working on. Then he added one line that changed the whole feel of it. Anyone who thought of themselves as creative was welcome to come, he said, even if they had never been to a single one of the earlier meetings. It was such a simple thing to say, but you could feel it land. In one sentence he told the whole room that a good idea was worth more than a perfect attendance record, and that the people he was hoping for might be sitting in seats no one had thought to ask. I have been turning that over ever since, partly because so many in church leadership do the opposite without meaning to. So, if you are working on how your church speaks, how it looks, or how it tells people who you are, let me pass along a few things that moment taught me. Start by inviting people for their gifts instead of their history. The planning group usually ends up being whoever showed up first, and before long it is the same faces every time. There is nothing wrong with those faces. But the most imaginative person in your church may have never been to a meeting in their life, and you will not hear from them unless you say so out loud and mean it. When you do invite them, be specific. "We need volunteers" rarely reaches the right people. "We are looking for people who think in words and pictures" does. A lot of artists and writers and designers quietly assume the church has no use for what they do, and a clear invitation tells them otherwise. Make it easy to walk in. People hold back when they feel they have already missed too much to matter. Saying plainly that no prior attendance is needed pulls that worry off the table, and it tells everyone that you actually want their thinking, not just a few more bodies in chairs. Once they are in the room, let them shape the real thing. The quickest way to lose a creative person is to hand them something already finished and ask them to make it pretty.

Just a quick reminder that our new member welcome call is tonight at 7:00 p.m. Central. This is for everyone, not only our newest faces, so please join us if you can. Below I've tagged the latest members to join the community, and I'd love to say hello and connect with each of you. Hope to see you there. Calendar · Ministry Unlocked @Chad Jarrett @Ruth Pomelek @Shawn Gray @Mark Matthews @Joshua Ingram @Lucas Gonzalez