Speaker: John Ward, Director of Development, Global Gates
How does it feel to be an innovation award winner?
John Ward: Hello, my name is John Ward, and I serve as the director of development at Global Gates. We're grateful to be a part of the Mission Nexus community, and we're so honored to be a recipient of this year's Missionexis Innovation Fund. I've had the opportunity to gain training through Mosie Nexus and others on the topic of innovation, and the definition of innovation that continues to stick with me is creating ideas that solve problems and add value to those we serve. We are excited to receive and steward these funds towards that goal of solving problems and adding value to those we serve. These funds will allow our media to movement team to create AI powered chatbots that will filter and respond. To the most frequently asked questions from gospel seekers among the unreached people groups who visit our websites and click on our social media posts. This will allow us to more effectively scale our digital media outreach, and it will protect our human digital responders who have received threats from those who want to stop our efforts to spread the gospel. We anticipate these chatbots will identify and turn away those who are threatening this movement of the gospel, and will provide needed protection for our dear brothers and sisters who are eager to reach their people through this ministry. On behalf of Global Gates, I want to thank Ted and Michael for your efforts to inspire innovation among the members of the Mission Nexus community. I want to thank the funding partners that have made a kingdom investment in this initiative and continue to generously move us forward. I want to thank the partnering, individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and innovation happening through media to movements. Finally, I want to offer a special thanks to our ministry partners who are on the front lines of this effort to share and spread the gospel among the least reached. May God bless each of you and multiply our efforts to make disciples among the least reached. Thank you.
Could you share a few details about the innovative project that was funded?
John Ward: These funds will allow our media to movement team to create culturally relevant AI powered chatbots that will filter and respond to the most frequently asked questions from gospel seekers among the unreached people groups who visit our websites and click on our social media posts. This will allow us to more effectively scale our digital media outreach, and it will protect our human digital responders who have received threats from those who want to stop our efforts to spread the gospel. We anticipate these chatbots will identify and turn away those who are threatening this movement of the gospel, and will provide needed protection for our dear brothers and sisters who are eager to reach their people with this ministry.
What is the most innovative aspect of this project?
John Ward: In our research, we learned that the people groups we are engaging are spending enormous amounts of time online discussing religion and seeking answers to religious questions. Many are more bold to questions online than they are in one on one conversations. We also came to understand that because of the population growth in most of the countries where we work, traditional evangelism strategies are not changing the overall percentage of Christians within our target unreached people group. This project will allow us to reduce our expenses and reach more people with the gospel.
What difference do you hope this project will make?
John Ward: We hope this project will continue to expand the reach of our media to movement initiatives beyond the limitations of our current structures. To achieve this, we must embrace innovation and think creatively. This effort aligns with our mission and long-term vision that every place and every people group would have access to the gospel.
