A ministry technologist receives an unexpected assignment. A year ago, AI was simply an emerging technology to monitor—impressive but not central to their work. Then leadership convened a meeting: "We need an AI strategy. Take the lead."
Suddenly, this person bears responsibility for guiding an entire organization through a technological transformation that no one fully understands.
This scenario is playing out across thousands of churches, nonprofits, and faith-driven organizations globally. Emerging AI implementors are being thrust into positions of influence without adequate frameworks, community support, or theological grounding.
They face contradictory pressures: AI could accelerate ministry work, yet colleagues demand both "Why aren't we moving faster?" and "This is dangerous—slow down!" They carry uncertainty about compromising values and the profound isolation of wondering if anyone else understands this unique burden.
Through hundreds of conversations with these implementors, a critical insight emerged:
The global church isn't being equipped to shape AI. We're only being taught to react to it.
At MAI 2025, 561 leaders gathered in Dallas. The content was substantive, the networking exceeded expectations, yet in conversations throughout the event we heard consistently: "This is valuable, but I still don't know what to do Monday morning. I'm inspired, but I remain isolated. I need a framework, not just case studies."
This surfaced a critical gap: We were helping people understand AI. We weren't equipping them to shape it.
Current Christian discourse on AI largely operates in "responsible AI" mode—a defensive posture emphasizing harm mitigation and risk management. What the global church actually requires is redemptive AI—a proactive vision for building AI systems that actively serve human flourishing, advance the gospel, and embody Kingdom values from inception.
The distinction is foundational:
Responsible AI asks: "How do we prevent harm?"
Redemptive AI asks: "How do we actively create good?"
Responsible AI is defensive. Redemptive AI is proactive. Responsible AI assumes AI is happening to us. Redemptive AI recognizes our agency to shape it.
Here's the strategic reality: There exists a narrow window where Christians can establish meaningful influence in AI development before the field matures without us. Decisions currently being made at frontier AI companies will shape human experience for the next half-century. Christians need representation in those spaces—not merely as ethics consultants, but as builders, researchers, and leaders shaping technology from its foundation.
As we've designed MAI 2026, our team focused on one question: What must participants experience to fundamentally shift their relationship with AI and their confidence in engaging it?
We've identified five core transformations:
The shift: Moving from "How do I use AI without causing harm?" to "How do I build AI that actively advances Kingdom purposes?"
This isn't semantic refinement—it's a complete reframing of agency and possibility.
At MAI 2026, participants will engage theological frameworks grounded in Scripture, hear from Christian AI ethicists, and experience worship and spiritual practices integrated throughout. We're platforming both AI optimists and conscientious objectors because redemptive thinking requires wrestling with complexity. Participants will leave with biblical frameworks for navigating AI decisions, though the application work continues in their specific contexts.
The shift: From viewing AI as peripheral to recognizing it as new terrain for mission, discipleship, and evangelism.
Most ministries operate from scarcity assumptions: insufficient resources, translators, or capacity. AI doesn't merely accelerate existing work—it opens new possibilities. Bible translation timelines are compressing. Churches are exploring personalized discipleship. Missionaries are testing new communication tools. These applications are emerging, though still maturing.
Participants will engage field case studies, hear Global South voices sharing diverse applications, learn about policy opportunities, and understand technical roadmaps from Christian researchers. The goal is helping participants see where AI intersects with their specific ministry context and what early implementations are teaching us.
The shift: Arriving as "the only AI person in my organization" and departing knowing "my people exist—and we're connected."
Emerging AI implementors aren't just overwhelmed by complexity—they're isolated. They're explaining why this matters in staff meetings, fielding anxious questions from leadership, testing tools while wondering if anyone else shares their conviction.
The gathering features networking structures designed for meaningful connection, specialized zones organized by role and context, year-round community infrastructure, collaborative working sessions, and intentionally structured interaction opportunities. The outcome: participants discover they're not alone and build relationships with others navigating similar challenges.
The shift: From arriving feeling inadequate to departing with greater confidence and clearer next steps.
The emerging implementor questions their adequacy while simultaneously building tools, writing policy, and making decisions weekly. The issue isn't competence—it's confidence and clarity.
Participants will engage hands-on Labs exploring AI applications, receive frameworks and templates for organizational use, participate in experience-appropriate tracks, and work through practical challenges. The goal is equipping participants with tangible resources and clearer direction for their next 90 days, recognizing that effective implementation requires ongoing learning and adaptation.
The shift: From questioning "Could this work?" to understanding "Here's what's actually working—and what we're learning."
Emerging implementors represent organizations needing strategic direction. MAI 2026 aims to equip teams and leaders to explore AI adoption aligned with mission and values.
The experience includes organizations sharing documented learnings (both successes and challenges), facilitated strategy sessions, frameworks for leading organizational change, and interactive exhibits of current implementations. Participants will understand what's being tried, what early results suggest, and how to develop contextually appropriate strategies for their own organizations.
MAI 2026 moves to San Jose—the heart of Silicon Valley.
If Christians intend to shape AI rather than merely respond to it, we benefit from proximity to where AI is being built. Presence in the same ecosystem as frontier AI companies signals that we're here to contribute, not just critique. It also reduces barriers for Christians at these companies—many feeling isolated about integrating faith with work—to participate.
We're establishing presence in AI development's epicenter with a clear message: "The global church has meaningful contributions to make here. And we're committed to sustained engagement."
This gathering is designed for you if: You're responsible for AI strategy in your organization, navigating tension between AI's potential and legitimate risks, seeking theological frameworks for decision-making, wanting practical guidance alongside theory, needing community with others facing similar pressures, believing Christians should help shape AI's development, and prepared to engage complexity without simple answers.
This may not align if: You're seeking prescriptive solutions rather than frameworks for ongoing discernment, preferring to avoid theological depth, or content with purely defensive approaches.
For emerging implementors carrying organizational AI responsibility—often in isolation—this gathering provides community, frameworks, and practical resources for their ongoing work.
MAI 2026 isn't just a conference—it's a movement of Christians engaging AI as builders and leaders, not merely respondents. A movement believing technology can serve human flourishing when guided by Kingdom principles. A movement declaring: Redemptive AI isn't just possible—it's part of our calling.
Early bird registrations are now open. We'll soon share speaker lineup details, specific track descriptions, and year-round community engagement opportunities.
For now, understand this: The field is shifting. The window is narrow. And the global church has an essential voice in shaping what emerges.
We hope you'll join us in Silicon Valley.
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If someone in your network is navigating AI implementation in their organization, share this with them.
The MAI Leadership Team