Dear Church Family,

Despite its shifting and even slower rhythms, summer continues to give us meaningful opportunities to serve, pray, and stay connected. This week, VBS is taking place at CityRise Missouri City, and I hope you will continue praying for the children, families, volunteers, and leaders who are a part of this important week of ministry.

As I shared last week, my sabbatical has now officially begun, and I would be grateful for your prayers during this time. Please pray that the Lord would use these days for rest, renewal, reflection, and deeper dependence on Him. I am thankful for this church family and for the faithful leaders who will continue serving and shepherding well in the weeks ahead.

Today, I also invite you to begin praying and thinking ahead with me about a unique opportunity coming this August to serve our community as well as business leaders and entrepreneurs. Artificial intelligence is no longer something distant or theoretical. It is already shaping the way many people work, learn, communicate, create, lead, and think about the future. For some, that brings excitement and possibility; for others, it raises real questions about wisdom, ethics, relationships, truth, and what it means to be human.

As followers of Jesus, as well as leaders in the marketplace, we do not need to respond to a changing world with fear. But neither should we respond carelessly. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to think faithfully and biblically about the tools, ideas, and cultural shifts shaping our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren.

That is why I am excited to share that this August, CityRise will host The AI Revolution: Four Nights with Global Experts on Technology, Mind, and Faith.

This four-week speaker series will take place on Monday nights in August and will feature gifted leaders and Christian thinkers helping us all consider artificial intelligence through the lenses of faith, wisdom, technology, leadership, morality, and human flourishing.

August 3 • Dr. Jeff Frey
Human Intelligence in an Artificial World: AI, Emotional Intelligence, and Leading with Wisdom in a Changing World

August 10 • Dr. James Tour
Building New AI Computational Devices and the Downstream Moral Implications

August 17 • Peter and Misty Phillip
The Trojan Horse of The Digital Age: Why Christians Must Discern AI

August 24 • Dr. Laura Murray
From Fragmented to Integrated: People, Technology, and a New Way to Think About Mental Health Care

Whether you are already using AI regularly, cautiously curious, deeply concerned, or simply trying to understand its vast impact, I believe these evenings will be worth your time.

More information, including speaker bios and topic details, is available at cityrise.org/ai.

I hope you will make plans to join us in August as we seek to think clearly, faithfully, and prayerfully about one of the most significant technological shifts of our time. I am grateful to be part of a church family that wants to engage the world with both conviction and compassion, confidence and humility, truth and grace.

I hope you will gather for worship this Sunday, Church Family!


Expecting Greater,
Pastor Roger