Miheret.com - Blog

The Bus We're All On: What I Learned About God's Movement

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:19:42 GMT

Insights on diaspora engagement and cross-cultural leadership from Dr. Galadima's Cru conference session. Discover how God works through migration, the three principles of presence, proclamation, and partnership, and why 80% of Christianity now being in the Global South.

Reflections from a fellow traveler on the diaspora journey

Have you ever been on a diaspora bus? I have, and I'm still on it. Recently at our Cru staff conference, we had a session that focused on diaspora engagement, and here are some things I'd like to share with you.

Dr. Bulus Galadima invited us into what felt like a living room conversation, but what unfolded was a master class in recognizing God's movement in the stories happening all around us.

First, let me share how Dr. Galadima helped us understand diaspora. While migration is often temporary or limited to one generation, diaspora is multi-generational. It retains spiritual and cultural ties across time and place. Diaspora communities maintain deep connections to their homeland while building new roots in their host countries.

The Story God's Been Telling All Along

Diaspora is how the gospel has always moved.

Dr. Galadima walked us through Scripture with fresh eyes. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived diasporic lives. Moses was a Hebrew-African leader. Jesus himself fled to Egypt as a refugee. Even the Ten Commandments were given during a migration.

"If we are not moving, we should be moving," he said, and I thought about how often we treat movement as disruption rather than divine strategy.

Myanmar Next Door

In Houston, one in four residents is foreign-born. "Myanmar is next door to me," Dr. Galadima observed, capturing something profound about our proximity to global Christianity.

We host more than 20 Nigerian churches, over 40 South Asian congregations, and unreached groups like the Rohingya and Pashto speakers. But here's what got me: two-thirds of immigrants to the U.S. are already Christian or become Christian here.

We're receiving people who are already Christian or become Christian here. We're receiving the global church.

The Hardest Truth

The most challenging moment came when Dr. Galadima shared his transportation metaphor: "We are on the bus, but we are not the drivers. It's not our bus, it's Jesus' bus."

Ouch. And also, freedom.

With 80% of Christianity now in the Global South, we're all learning to work together as partners. As Dr. Galadima put it, we're all passengers on Jesus' bus. The opportunity is for Christians everywhere to humbly join what God is already doing through diaspora communities.

As Dr. Galadima put it, "Diversity is not a challenge to the mission. It is the mission."

Three Simple Doors

Dr. Galadima offered a framework that felt both profound and doable.

Presence

Living among diaspora communities. Real relationship, more than just proximity.

Proclamation

Sharing Christ with cultural humility. Let the gospel take root in diverse soil.

Partnership

Equipping diaspora believers to lead and send. Many are already equipped. They need encouragement, not supervision.

The Revelation 7 Preview

What happens when we embrace this reality? American Christianity becomes more globally connected. We get a preview of Revelation 7:9-12. Every tribe, tongue, and nation worshipping together.

As Miroslav Volf writes, "Christian identity is formed not by separation from the other, but by embrace of the other."

Breaking Bread Changes Everything

The session ended with surprisingly intimate next steps. Visit immigrant churches. Cook meals together. Explore your own cultural heritage.

"There's something special about breaking bread in each other's homes," Dr. Galadima said.

In our age of digital connection and cultural division, hospitality becomes revolutionary.

The View from Where I Sit

As I processed these insights, I thought about my own journey. The Syrian family who opened authentic Syrian cuisine 5 minutes from my house. The Indian graduate student I met at UCF who is now walking with the Lord. The Ethiopian church in Kansas who are doing fabulous jobs within the Ethiopian community as well as with their new American neighbors.

These are living testimonies to God's global kingdom arriving one neighbor at a time.

Church historian Jehu Hanciles reminds us: "The rise of Christianity as a world movement has been predominantly through the agency and activity of migrants."

This is how Christianity has always spread. From the Ethiopian eunuch to Paul's journeys to the Irish monks, the gospel has always moved through people on the move.

An Invitation to Join the Journey

The bus is moving. God is working through migration patterns that bring Myanmar to Houston, Nigeria to Texas, and the global church to our doorstep.

The question is whether we'll recognize that God is already at work through diaspora communities, and humbly ask how we can join the journey.

What would change if you saw your neighborhood as a prophetic space where God's global kingdom is taking shape?

What would shift if you realized the future of Christianity is something to join rather than manage?

The bus is moving. The seat next to you is open.

Are you ready for the ride?

Join the Conversation

What's your diaspora experience? How are you seeing God working in your church and community?

Subscribe to My Newsletter

Dr. Galadima contributed to the Lausanne Congress Diaspora Network book "People on the Move," which dives deeper into these themes. The session reminded me that diaspora is central to the church's future. It is the church's future, arriving one shared meal at a time.

About Miheret T. Eshete

Miheret shares insights and stories from the intersection of global missions, digital innovation, cross-cultural leadership, and holistic transformation. As someone living the diaspora experience, he writes about leadership, innovation, and faith from a uniquely global perspective.

The Surprising Truth About How People Really Use AI in 2025

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:00:06 GMT

Harvard research reveals AI’s top use in 2025 is therapy, not code. Discover how this shift opens new doors for ministry, mental health, and human flourishing.

The Surprising Truth About How People Really Use AI in 2025

New research reveals we're using the most advanced technology for our most human needs

When Harvard Business Review set out to understand how people actually use artificial intelligence in 2025, they expected to find productivity hacks, business automation, and technical problem-solving dominating the landscape.

Instead, they discovered something profound about human nature.

After analyzing over 100,000 forum posts, the research revealed that the #1 use case for AI is therapy and companionship—not coding, not data analysis, not business efficiency.

Emotional support.

A Fundamental Shift Toward Human Connection

The data tells a compelling story of transformation. Between 2024 and 2025, we witnessed a dramatic shift from technical to deeply human applications:

Top 5 AI Use Cases in 2025:

Therapy/companionship
Organizing my life (new)
Finding purpose (new)
Enhanced learning
Generating code (for professionals)

The category "Personal and Professional Support" exploded from 17% to 31% of all use cases, while "Technical Assistance" dropped from 21% to 15%. This represents 38 entirely new use cases entering the top 100, most focused on human development and emotional well-being.

What the Data Reveals About Human Need

Consider this perspective from a user in South Africa: "Where I'm from, mental healthcare barely exists; there's a psychologist for 1 in every 100,000 people and a psychiatrist for 1 in every 300,000 people. Large language models are accessible to everyone, and they can help."

This insight illuminates several profound realities:

Accessibility Gap: Traditional support systems—whether therapeutic, spiritual, or educational—remain inaccessible to vast populations due to geography, economics, or cultural barriers.

24/7 Availability: AI provides round-the-clock support without judgment, offering a safe space for vulnerable conversations about grief, trauma, purpose, and growth.

Democratized Wisdom: What was once available only to those who could afford counseling, coaching, or mentoring is now accessible to anyone with internet access.

Hunger for Purpose: The emergence of "finding purpose" as a top-3 use case reveals a generation desperately seeking meaning in work, relationships, and life direction.

Implications for Mission-Driven Leaders

For leaders committed to human flourishing—whether in ministry, nonprofit work, education, or business—this research presents both opportunity and responsibility.

The Opportunity

AI is already functioning as a bridge to human development in ways we barely imagined. People are using it to:

Process grief and trauma when professional counseling isn't available
Develop better life habits and organizational systems
Explore questions of meaning, values, and calling
Access personalized learning and skill development
Build confidence and overcome limiting beliefs

The Responsibility

If AI is becoming a primary source of guidance for life's biggest questions, leaders must ask: How do we ensure this technology serves human flourishing rather than replacing authentic community and spiritual formation?

For Ministry Leaders: Could AI provide 24/7 spiritual guidance in regions where pastoral care is limited, while complementing rather than competing with human discipleship?

For Organizational Leaders: How might AI-powered coaching and personal development supplement traditional employee assistance programs?

For Global Mission Workers: In contexts with limited mental health infrastructure, could AI serve as a crucial bridge to emotional and spiritual support?

The Deeper Questions

This trend toward AI-as-companion raises profound questions about human nature and spiritual formation:

What does it mean that people are having their deepest conversations about purpose and meaning with algorithms?
How do we maintain the irreplaceable value of human relationship while embracing AI's accessibility?
What role should AI play in spiritual formation and pastoral care?

One user captured the spiritual dimension beautifully: "The lack of judgement and unrestricted exploration makes it an ideal playground for big dreams, potentially embarrassing questions, or hazy, half-formed goals." The desire for a non-judgmental space to explore life's biggest questions is fundamentally spiritual.

Moving Forward with Wisdom

The research shows that users are becoming more sophisticated, understanding both AI's capabilities and limitations. They worry about data privacy, express frustration with bias, and recognize the need for human discernment. This maturation suggests we're moving beyond naive adoption toward thoughtful integration.

The strategic question for leaders: If people are already using AI for personal growth and spiritual exploration, how can we intentionally steward this technology to support authentic human development?

A Technology That Points Beyond Itself

Perhaps the most encouraging insight from this research is that our most advanced technology is revealing our most basic human needs: to be known, to find purpose, to grow, to connect, and to contribute meaningfully to the world.

AI is helping people organize their lives, process their pain, and pursue their purpose. In doing so, it's not replacing the human elements of growth and healing—it's highlighting how desperately we need them.

The question is not whether AI will play a role in human formation. The data shows it already does. The question is whether leaders will thoughtfully engage this reality to serve human flourishing.

What role could AI play in your organization's mission to develop whole, thriving humans?

This analysis is based on Harvard Business Review's 2025 research "How People Are Using Gen AI," which examined over 100,000 forum posts to identify the top 100 AI use cases.

About the Research: The study analyzed posts from Reddit, Quora, and other online forums, identifying 100 distinct AI use cases organized into six themes. The methodology prioritized real-world applications over theoretical possibilities, providing insight into how individuals actually engage with AI technology.

For more insights on technology, leadership, and human flourishing, subscribe to our newsletter or follow our latest research.

AI as a Force for Good: What Pat Gelsinger Taught Us in Milwaukee

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:15:37 GMT

At Cru25, Pat Gelsinger called AI the “Gutenberg moment” of our time. Learn how Christian leaders can use LLMs to drive mission, education, and human flourishing—before it’s too late.

AI as a Force for Good: What Pat Gelsinger Taught Us in Milwaukee

It was Cru25 in Milwaukee, a rainy evening after dinner at a Thai restaurant. My colleagues and I ran to one of the most anticipated talks—“AI as a Force for Good” by Pat Gelsinger.

We found seats in Grand Ballroom C. You could feel the expectation in the room.

As the session picked up, Pat offered a quiet but sobering challenge:

“We missed the moment with social media. Will we miss it again with AI?”

The Challenge That Cut Deep

Pat Gelsinger—Executive Chair of Gloo, former Intel CEO, and someone who’s been in the room where technological history gets made—wasn’t giving us a theoretical lecture. He was issuing a wake-up call.

“AI is becoming the lingua franca of how young people communicate, interact with the world, and build relationships,” he said. “If you can’t speak that language, you’re already irrelevant to many of the people you’re called to reach.”

While we’ve been debating whether AI is “safe” for ministry, an entire generation has moved forward without us. Again.

“AI Doesn’t Know How Stupid You Are”

During the Q&A, someone asked what we all wondered: “I want to start using AI, but what if it leads me astray?”

Pat’s response was classic—practical, disarming, human:

“AI doesn’t know how stupid you are—it just keeps making you smarter.”

The room erupted in laughter. Then he got serious:

“Don’t replace prayer, Scripture, or community. AI should complement these, not substitute for them.”

His advice was direct: Try multiple models. Compare their answers. Don’t wait for permission—just start.

He compared it to reading a commentary or listening to a sermon—tools that give you access to centuries of Christian wisdom, now available in conversation format.

Three Ways to Engage AI Today

Pat outlined a framework that every ministry leader should understand:

Operationally
Use AI to improve your work—content creation, knowledge organization, problem-solving. Let the tool handle what it does best so you can focus on what only you can do.

Missionally
Deploy AI for evangelism, translation, digital outreach. AI can reach places we physically can’t and speak languages we haven’t learned.

Theologically
Access models trained on centuries of Christian writing and thought. Let these tools sharpen your faith and deepen your understanding.

“Luther Was the Most Important Person of the Last 1,000 Years”

The energy in the room shifted when Pat talked about Martin Luther. His voice carried new urgency.

“I would argue that Martin Luther was the most singularly important person in the last 1,000 years of history,” he said. Luther wasn’t just a reformer. He became the most important figure of the millennium because he used the printing press to scale truth—making the Bible accessible to ordinary people.

“This is our Gutenberg moment,” Pat declared. “The Church can shape AI’s development, or we can sit on the sidelines and watch others define its values.”

This wasn’t a history lesson. It was a commissioning.

Moonshots That Made Us Reimagine What’s Possible

Then Pat shared his personal vision, and the specificity was breathtaking:

Goal 1: Create “a $100 device that makes the final 40 years of life for every human better”—AI-powered hearing and vision tools that keep aging adults connected and engaged.

Goal 2: Tackle global education inequality. Right now, “300 million uneducated children live in poverty.” His vision? “AI-powered teachers increasing productivity 100x” so that “every child is taught in their own language.”

The scope? “We’ll be able to translate speech-to-text, speech-to-speech, text-to-text for all 7,000 known languages.”

I looked around the room. People were leaning forward, phones recording, taking notes furiously. This wasn’t about technology for technology’s sake. This was about using our tools to love our neighbors at a scale the world has never seen.

The Reality Check We Needed

Pat didn’t sugarcoat the challenges. He called out the hype:

“Things like sentience and superintelligence? It’s hogwash. We’re nowhere close.”

Today’s most powerful AI systems are “100,000 times less efficient than the human brain,” which runs on just 15 watts.

But he also didn’t minimize the risks. He warned that some models are “becoming children’s best friends online”—guiding them toward unhealthy emotional dependence. “I’m heading to Washington next week to meet with Secretary Sachs about AI regulation.”

His warning was sharp: “We wouldn’t release a drug with that kind of failure rate—why are we releasing AI that harms people?”

The Question That Changes Everything

When someone asked about preserving spiritual connection in the AI age, Pat’s response was brilliant:

“Walk into a campus ministry tomorrow and ask, ‘Which AI model are you using? How does it score on the flourishing benchmarks?’ That starts a conversation about values.”

This is exactly what Gloo’s Flourishing AI Benchmark measures—built on research from Harvard, Baylor, and Gallup. It evaluates whether AI tools promote purpose, character, relationships, and well-being.

Instead of asking whether AI is “good” or “bad,” we start asking: “Is this helping people flourish?”

Faith Has Always Led Innovation

Pat ended with a reminder that hit like a revelation:

“70% of Nobel laureates over the last century were followers of Christ. 90% were people of faith.”

Christianity didn’t just accommodate science—we launched hospitals, universities, and most forms of modern scientific discovery.

“We have a reasonable faith—grounded in science, truth, and innovation.”

So why are we afraid of AI?

Pat ended with a direct challenge: “Go forward. Become AI agents of the future.”

The session wasn’t just information about AI. It was a framework for faithful innovation and a call to step into our Gutenberg moment.

His opening challenge remains: “We missed the moment with social media. Will we miss it again with AI?”

The answer depends on what we do next.

What’s your next step with AI? I’d love to hear how this challenge is shaping your thinking. The conversation matters—and it’s just beginning.

Resources:

#AI #FaithAndTech #ChristianLeadership #DigitalMissions #PatGelsinger #Cru2025 #Innovation #MinistryStrategy

The Road to Kaeluma: A Powerful Audio Drama for Families, Teens, and Seekers

Thu, 29 May 2025 03:02:41 GMT

Discover The Road to Kaeluma, a 5-part audio drama from Jesus Film Project and FamilyLife that brings Scripture-based storytelling to life. Perfect for families, youth, and ministry leaders looking for faith-building, screen-free content.

The Road to Kaeluma: A Powerful Audio Drama

Some stories stay with you long after the final scene — even when that scene is told through sound, not sight.

That’s the power of The Road to Kaeluma — a 5-part fantasy audio drama from Jesus Film Project and FamilyLife.

This immersive series explores identity, pride, grace, and reconciliation through sound-rich storytelling inspired by the parable of the prodigal son.

Who It’s For

This series is designed for:

Families looking for screen-free, faith-building moments
Teens navigating questions about identity and expectations
Seekers who connect through story before sermon
Ministry leaders looking for creative, story-driven Gospel tools

What’s Included

Free discussion guides to foster deeper family engagement
Coloring pages for younger children
A companion podcast offering theological reflection

Watch the Trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKcxISy1xGw

Start Listening

Explore the full experience at the links below:

One story can open hearts. Share Kaeluma with a friend or family today.

Rejoicing Is Rebellion: What Dr. Arthur Brooks Taught Me About Leadership and Happiness

Tue, 06 May 2025 06:07:41 GMT

Discover the leadership wisdom of Dr. Arthur Brooks at Alpha LC 2025—why joy is your responsibility and how happiness shapes your witness.

Rejoicing Is Rebellion: What Dr. Arthur Brooks Taught Me About Leadership and Happiness

Date: May 2025
Author: Miheret Tilahun

At the 2025 Alpha Leadership Conference in London, I found myself sitting on the floor of an overflow room at HTB, not expecting the moment to shape my thinking on leadership and joy so profoundly. But then Dr. Arthur Brooks—Harvard scholar, Catholic believer, and happiness expert—stood up and posed a question that cut straight to the heart:

“How do you lead others well if you’re not working on your own happiness?”

That question may sound like a modern self-help cliché—but in Dr. Brooks’ hands, it became something deeper. A challenge. A call. Even a kind of ethical mandate for leaders who claim to follow Jesus.

Because here’s the truth: people are watching. And as Brooks reminded us, “you might be the only Jesus follower someone meets.” In that context, your happiness—your visible joy, peace, and presence—becomes a form of witness.

Happiness Is a Formula, Not a Mystery

Dr. Brooks shared that happiness isn’t just about personality or good fortune. It actually breaks down like this:

50% genetic
25% life circumstances
25% habits

That final 25%? That’s our stewardship zone—the part we can cultivate, and the part that matters deeply for leaders. Especially those of us called to reflect Christ in digital spaces, cross-cultural work, and everyday leadership.

The 4 Habits That Fuel Joyful Leadership

Brooks identified four practices that most significantly contribute to sustained happiness—and they sound a lot like spiritual formation:

Faith – Anchoring your identity in something eternal, not in your role, reputation, or performance.
Family – Choosing unity over division, even when disagreements come.
Friendship – Investing in real, vulnerable friendships—especially the “useless” kind that don’t serve an agenda.
Work – Not merely collecting a paycheck, but pursuing earned success and meaningful service.

Meaning: The Antidote to Despair

Brooks asked two questions that I’ve continued to reflect on:

Why am I alive?
What would I give my life for?

He shared that most people under 30 can’t answer either—and that’s not just a crisis of mental health. It’s a crisis of meaning. In his words, “That’s the mission field.”

Know Your Idol—or It Will Derail You

One of the more sobering moments came when Brooks quoted Thomas Aquinas, who named the four “false gods” that tempt the human heart:

Money
Power
Pleasure
Honor (fame or approval)

Each of us leans toward one of these. If we don’t name it, it will quietly shape our decisions and eventually shape our regrets.

Don't Just Listen—Teach

Dr. Brooks ended with a challenge that hit home for me:

“Teach this material. Share it. Put your name on it.”

Because we remember what we teach. And people follow leaders who live what they say.

Rejoicing Is Rebellion

In a culture addicted to outrage and resentment, choosing joy is an act of resistance.

This session wasn’t a motivational moment. It was a commissioning.

A reminder that rejoicing is rebellion. And that rebellion might just begin with owning your 25%—and inviting others to do the same.

Resources: You can explore Dr. Brooks’ free resources at arthurbrooks.com

Tags: #Leadership #Happiness #ChristianLeadership #FaithAndWork #EmotionalIntelligence #AlphaLC25 #PurposeDrivenLife #JoyInLeadership #DigitalMissions

NextSteps : Transformez les moments numériques en impact éternel

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 21:42:25 GMT

Créez des parcours interactifs pour la prière, l’évangélisation et le discipulat. Utilisez les vidéos du Jesus Film et des modèles prêts à partager.

NextSteps : Transformez les moments numériques en impact éternel

Dans un monde saturé de contenu et de distractions, comment pouvons-nous aider les gens à rencontrer Jésus de manière réelle et personnelle ?

NextSteps est une plateforme gratuite, simple et puissante, développée par le Jesus Film Project, qui vous permet de créer des parcours spirituels numériques interactifs pour guider les gens vers Jésus.

Que vous souhaitiez inviter quelqu’un à l’église, offrir la prière, partager l’Évangile ou accompagner un nouveau croyant, NextSteps rend cela simple, personnel et accessible.

Qu’est-ce qu’un parcours NextSteps ?

Un parcours NextSteps est une expérience mobile et interactive en plusieurs “cartes” qui accompagnent une personne dans un moment spirituel — prière, réflexion, verset biblique, ou invitation à suivre Jésus.

Textes et témoignages
Vidéos courtes
Versets bibliques
Questions personnelles
Prière ou réflexion
Une invitation à faire un pas concret

Utilisez-le pour la prière, l’évangélisation, le discipulat ou les invitations

Vous pouvez créer des parcours adaptés à vos objectifs ministériels :

Parcours de prière – Offrir du soutien spirituel
Parcours d’évangélisation – Partager l’Évangile de manière visuelle et engageante
Parcours de discipulat – Aider les croyants à grandir dans leur foi
Parcours d’invitation – Inviter à un événement, un culte ou un petit groupe

La puissance des modèles prêts à l’emploi

NextSteps propose des modèles prédéfinis pour chaque type de parcours. Ils sont inspirés de cas réels et faciles à personnaliser :

Modifiez le texte pour refléter votre style
Ajoutez vos images, vidéos ou questions
Partagez le lien ou QR code en quelques clics

NextSteps évolue avec vous

Que vous touchiez une personne ou des centaines, NextSteps s’adapte à votre portée :

Un à un : Connectez-vous via WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS, Signal, Telegram
Un à plusieurs : Partagez sur les réseaux sociaux, à l’église ou dans vos newsletters

Chaque point de contact numérique peut devenir une rencontre spirituelle. Si quelqu’un veut répondre, il peut le faire immédiatement.

Médias disponibles en plus de 2000 langues

Intégrez facilement les vidéos de la bibliothèque du Jesus Film Project, disponibles en plus de 2000 langues. Vous pouvez aussi intégrer n’importe quelle vidéo YouTube.

Besoin d’une image ? Utilisez l’IA intégrée

Pas d’image ? Pas de problème. Utilisez l’outil IA intégré pour générer une illustration adaptée en quelques secondes — simplement en écrivant une description.

Essayez un parcours

Découvrez par vous-même à quoi ressemble un parcours : your.nextstep.is/welcome

Regardez la vidéo explicative

Cette courte vidéo vous montre comment fonctionne NextSteps :

Commencez dès maintenant – c’est gratuit

Prêt à faire une différence ? Rendez-vous sur NextStep.is pour créer votre premier parcours aujourd’hui.

Tout le monde a un prochain pas à faire. Aidons-les à le découvrir.

Vous avez le message. NextSteps vous donne les moyens. Ensemble, atteignons le monde — un parcours à la fois.

NextSteps: Turn Digital Moments Into Eternal Impact

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 14:25:51 GMT

Create and share interactive gospel journeys with NextSteps. Use free templates, Jesus Film videos, and AI tools to scale digital outreach—fast and easy.

NextSteps: Turn Digital Moments Into Eternal Impact

In a world full of noise and endless scrolling, how do we help people connect with Jesus in a real and personal way?

NextSteps is a simple, powerful, and completely free platform from Jesus Film Project that equips you to create digital, interactive journeys that lead others closer to Christ.

Whether you’re inviting someone to church, offering prayer, sharing the gospel, or helping a new believer grow—NextSteps makes it personal, scalable, and beautifully simple.

What Is a NextSteps Journey?

A NextSteps Journey is a swipe-through, mobile-friendly experience made up of engaging “cards” that guide someone through a spiritual moment—whether that’s prayer, reflection, Scripture, or a gospel invitation.

Text and storytelling
Short videos
Bible verses
Personal questions
Prayer or reflection
A call to take the next step

Use It for Prayer, Evangelism, Discipleship, or Invitations

You can use NextSteps to build impactful journeys tailored to your ministry goals:

Prayer Journeys – Offer spiritual support and comfort
Evangelism Journeys – Share the gospel in a visual, engaging way
Discipleship Journeys – Help others grow in their walk with Jesus
Invitation Journeys – Invite people to church, events, or small groups

The Power of Templates

NextSteps includes ready-to-use templates for each journey type. These are based on real-life ministry examples and are fully customizable:

Change the wording to reflect your tone and voice
Add your own images, videos, or response questions
Launch your journey instantly with a unique link or QR code

NextSteps Scales With You

Whether you're sharing with one person or hundreds, NextSteps adapts to your ministry scale:

One-on-one: Connect personally via messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, or SMS
One-to-many: Share your journey across platforms like social media, websites, or church events

This flexibility means every digital touchpoint can become a spiritual moment—and if someone is ready to respond, they can connect with you instantly.

Built-In Media That Speaks Every Language

NextSteps integrates with the Jesus Film Project media library, offering gospel-centered content in over 2,000 languages. You can drag and drop short videos into your journey to bring Scripture and story to life—no extra editing needed.

You can also embed any YouTube video—whether it’s a testimony, worship song, or short message—directly into your journey. That means your favorite content becomes a tool for digital ministry.

No Image? Use AI to Create One

If you don’t have the perfect photo for a card, use the built-in AI image generator. Just describe what you need (e.g., “a woman praying at sunset”), and the platform will create a beautiful, relevant image ready for use.

Sample a Journey

Want to see what a journey looks like in action? Try this sample: your.nextstep.is/welcome

Watch the Explainer Video

This quick video from Jesus Film Project shows how NextSteps works and how easy it is to start:

Start Now—It’s Free

Ready to make an impact? Visit NextStep.is to sign up, explore templates, and build your first journey today. It’s completely free—no subscription, no cost, just powerful digital ministry tools in your hands.

Everyone has a next step. Let’s help them take it.

You have the message. NextSteps gives you the means. Let’s reach the world—one journey at a time.

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 01:41:26 GMT

Explore the deep humanity of Jesus’ cry, “Why have you forsaken me?”—and how it speaks to our pain, questions, and hope in the middle of suffering and silence.

“Why Have You Forsaken Me?” When Jesus Entered the Silence

I remember moments when I felt like God went quiet.

One of those moments was during the civil conflict in my country. I watched things unravel. People fleeing, lives lost, justice nowhere to be found. I asked God honest questions: Where are you? Don’t you see what’s happening? Don’t you care?

There was pain inside me and all around me.

That’s why I stop at Jesus’ words on the cross. Not just because they’re famous but because they’re real.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

He said that. Not in comfort or control, but in agony. Hanging, bleeding, fully human. In that moment, Jesus didn’t feel victorious. He felt abandoned.

That tells me something. It tells me He didn’t avoid our pain. He stepped right into it. He took it on. Not just to relate, but to carry it. The weight of sin. The silence of God. The loneliness we all feel at some point. He entered it all.

In my digital mission experience, I’ve received messages from people going through unspeakable pain. One person wrote, “Please don’t respond with the story of Job. My suffering is too much for that example.”

That message has stayed with me. It reminds me that many carry pain that feels beyond even biblical comparisons.

I don’t have all the answers to why suffering happens. But I do know this. God didn’t stay distant. He didn’t send a message from heaven. He came down. He lived with us. And He faced the darkest human experience so that we wouldn’t be alone in ours.

I think of that often when I pray and feel like I’m not heard. When I watch the news and feel helpless. When I walk with people going through grief that words can’t fix.

Jesus knows.

And more than that, He overcame. He didn’t just die. He rose. That means pain and death don’t get the last word.

When I follow Him, I follow someone who’s been through it. Not just a teacher or a prophet. Someone who stepped into suffering, stayed there, and broke through it.

That’s why I trust Him.

Watch: My Last Day – A powerful animated short film by Jesus Film Project, portraying Jesus’ final hours and the hope that followed.

Easter Sunday - The Tomb Is Empty

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:33:51 GMT

Celebrate Easter Sunday with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Discover the hope of the empty tomb and watch a powerful video from the Jesus Film Project.

Easter Sunday – The Tomb Is Empty

Date: Sunday Morning, Jerusalem, 33 A.D.

Breaking News: The tomb is empty.

Before sunrise, several women went to the place where Jesus had been buried. But the stone was rolled away. The tomb was open. And His body was gone.

They say angels appeared, asking, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here—He has risen!”

Disciples ran to see for themselves. Some claim they’ve already seen Him, alive. Could it be true?

This is more than the end of a story. It’s the beginning of something entirely new.

Because Jesus is alive:

Hope conquers despair
Life triumphs over death
Purpose is reborn in every heart that believes

Today, we celebrate the greatest victory in history: He is risen!

Watch: The Resurrection of Jesus

Experience this powerful scene from the Jesus Film Project:

What does the resurrection mean to you today? This Easter, may you rediscover faith, hope, and the power of new beginnings.

Holy Saturday- The Silence In Between

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:27:20 GMT

Reflect on Holy Saturday, the quiet day between the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Discover the meaning behind the silence in between—grief, waiting, and hidden hope.

Holy Saturday – The Silence In Between

Date: Saturday Evening, Jerusalem, 33 A.D.

Today, everything was quiet.

The streets of Jerusalem, once filled with noise and conflict, have fallen into a heavy silence. Jesus of Nazareth—crucified and buried just yesterday—remains in a sealed tomb guarded by Roman soldiers.

His followers are scattered. Hiding. Grieving. Confused.

For them, the story seemed over. What they had hoped for—freedom, restoration, life—appeared to have ended in death.

Holy Saturday is the day between despair and hope. The pause between death and resurrection. It’s a space many of us know well—a time of waiting, not knowing what comes next.

This is the silence in between.

But Sunday is coming.

Stay tuned. The silence won’t last forever.