For centuries, missionaries have learned languages, translators have labored over Scripture, and the church has worked tirelessly to bridge linguistic divides. But today, we're standing at a remarkable inflection point. What if the greatest barrier to sharing the gospel with billions of people—language—was suddenly no longer an issue?
In a recent episode of the Global Missional AI podcast, Yvonne Carlson, Chief Technology Officer at Global Media Outreach and board member of Faith Tech, shared her vision for how artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming cross-cultural ministry. Her message was clear: "This AI moment is a gospel moment."
The urgency behind this technological revolution becomes evident when we examine the numbers. According to the Lausanne Movement's State of the Great Commission Report, approximately 3.34 billion people have still not heard the gospel. Meanwhile, about 97 percent of the current global total of 450,000 Christian missionaries are sent to people who already have access to the gospel.
The mission information workers at Joshua Project estimate 7,425 ethnolinguistic peoples are "unreached"—meaning they lack enough indigenous followers of Christ to evangelize their own people. Nearly 3,000 of these unreached people groups—about three-fifths of the world's total—reside in South Asia, specifically in India and Pakistan.
This disparity between missionary deployment and missional need has long challenged the church. But AI is beginning to shift the equation.
"The big amazing thing," Carlson explained, "is that language is no longer an issue. The translation technologies, whether in real time or just translating materials into multiple languages—it's getting so good that there's much less error than there used to be."
This isn't hyperbole. At the 2025 Global Missional AI Summit, Biblica reported that AI has reduced the Bible translation process by up to 25 years in some languages. The Wycliffe Global Alliance reports remarkable progress: as of August 2025, just 544 of the world's 7,396 living languages remain without Bible translation work begun—down from over 5,000 in 1999.
Carlson describes how this removes traditional limitations: "When people think about their mission and their vision, they're not in any way limited by the languages of their team. You can really reach the whole world."
What distinguishes Carlson's approach is her emphasis on AI as an enhancement to human connection rather than a replacement for it. Global Media Outreach has developed what she calls a "message assistant"—a co-pilot for online missionaries that surfaces suggested responses, relevant materials, and even tracks spiritual formation signals in conversations.
"At the end of the day, it's about that human connection we want to establish," she explains. "In an in-person context, you'd build rapport naturally. How do we do something similar in a digital context?"
This philosophy is reflected in GMO's official position on AI, outlined in their statement "Faithful Innovation." As Anna Price, Director of Ministry Response at GMO, notes: "The Holy Spirit is not within any piece of technology itself. Not the computer, not the Internet, not AI—but He does live within our online missionaries and our staff."
GMO has launched tools like "Gabe," a concierge-style AI chatbot that routes seekers to appropriate resources or connects them with volunteers. Their upcoming "Co-Pilot" tool, launching mid-2025, will assist volunteers in real-time conversations with seekers. Importantly, as Carlson emphasizes, these tools use "an AI ground truth—and that truth is Scripture."
Church attitudes toward AI are evolving rapidly. A 2023 Barna study showed that over half of Christians (51%) disagreed that AI and the church should intersect. Yet by 2024, according to the State of AI in the Church Survey by Exponential NEXT, over 66 percent of church staff now use AI tools occasionally, weekly, or daily—a significant jump from just 37 percent in 2023.
Research by Frontier Ventures among mission leaders in Africa reveals that while only 12.5% describe themselves as "highly eager" about AI, 37.7% are now actively using it, and 45.3% believe AI will positively impact mission work when used correctly. The most common applications include translation (60%), administration (53.3%), training (52%), and content creation (50.7%).
A bishop in Africa captured the theological tension perfectly when he asked: "If I use AI to write my sermon, where is the Holy Spirit?" It's exactly the right question—and one that thoughtful practitioners like Carlson are addressing head-on by positioning AI as a tool that amplifies human ministry rather than replacing it.
For technologists, Carlson sees unparalleled opportunity. "As a builder, we have the best in terms of opportunities. I've never seen anything like this in my life—the capabilities of the toolsets."
But she also acknowledges the challenge: "When you're solutioning now, there are so many different ways you could solve a problem." This is why community matters—builders learning from one another, partnering rather than reinventing wheels. "Those are dollars that could be stewarded other ways," she notes.
Her call to action is direct: "Lend your aid to your church, to any nonprofit or gospel-centered mission in your sphere of influence. Just be that person who's willing to answer questions and help people understand the capabilities and possibilities."
The convergence of AI capabilities with missional urgency creates what may be the most significant opportunity for gospel advancement in generations. Tools that once seemed like science fiction—real-time translation, intelligent chatbots, pattern analysis for spiritual formation—are now operational realities.
As Desiring God notes, "AI in particular is a two-edged sword, and mission practitioners cannot ignore it." The organizations that thoughtfully integrate these tools while maintaining the primacy of human connection and biblical grounding will likely shape the future of global mission.
The Global Missional AI Summit 2026 is happening April 7-9 in Silicon Valley, California—the largest gathering of Christians working at the intersection of faith and artificial intelligence. For those sensing a calling to this space, it represents an opportunity to join a movement that's only beginning to understand its potential.
As Carlson and her colleagues at Faith Tech remind us: this AI moment is a gospel moment. The question is not whether the church will engage with these technologies, but how faithfully and strategically we will steward them for the kingdom.
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.
We hope you'll join us in Silicon Valley.