The Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) is hosting an AI Conference to discuss best practices for Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage in the church on Dec. 15 at Second Baptist Church in Conway.
The idea for an AI Conference began to form after ABSC Evangelism + Church Health Assistant Team Leader Bob Johnson and Next Gen and Discipleship Strategist Bill Newton both attended conferences where one of the topics covered was AI.
“There is a lot of talk about it. There is a lot of interest in it. In church circles, there is a lot of fear about what it is and how it functions,” Johnson said. “It has become a hot topic.”
The AI Conference will have four sessions. Johnson said those sessions will cover the history of AI and uses of it today, ethical use of AI, practical uses of AI in the church, and relational/sociological concerns.
Speakers for the conference are:
- Dr. Katie Frugé, director of the Center for Cultural Engagement and The Christian Life Commission for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In her role, she helps churches navigate the cultural issues of the day from a biblical perspective.
- Neftali Alverio Jr., vice president of Technology and Digital Innovation at Lifeway. In this role, he collaborates with Lifeway’s IT leadership to shape a strategic vision that drives productivity and gospel centered innovation through technology.
All Arkansas Baptists are invited to attend the conference at no cost. The conference will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Dec. 10.
“AI is everywhere and the church has the opportunity to speak into it as it is unfolding in culture which we don’t always have the opportunity to do,” Newton said.
For more information and to register for the conference, visit absc.org/ai.