Host: Hey. Ryan Beck is with us. Ryan's chief technology officer at PRAY.COM. So, alright. Here's Ryan. Welcome to the show. Is so is this, this one of the is this was this like an ethical line or question for you guys? I know you wanna spread the word, so to speak, and get out, your message, about religion and praying. Was using artificial intelligence up for debate internally?
Ryan Beck: Well, thanks for having me on. I appreciate it. You know, as we look at the current trends in technology, you think about what the the White House is doing, for Pray America 2025 to celebrate the 250th birthday of America. When they called us to, help in leading that initiative, we are excited since we stand at the forefront of, the technology, space for faith. And so we've been really embracing the cutting edge of technology, and we've been trying to do it in a respectful manner to the history of the church and of Christianity, but also in a way that helps embrace the the new trends to help Christianity and, to deliver its message worldwide. You you showed those trends, that was showing religious attendance on a decline. That's why PRAY.COM was started, to help fill that gap. As communities move digitally, we've introduced new technology to help them move digitally and find their faith and spirituality online.
Host: So it's interesting. Your your literal job description, I would suppose, that your chief technology officer at a company like this would be to use tech to try to get, messages about faith out, but just to blend technology and faith together, which seems to me to be kind of inherently challenging in some ways. Do you run into issues whether it's this or other issues where it's tough to do, where there where there are conflicts or or no?
Ryan Beck: You know, I think, you know, I appreciate that question. And and because that's, I think sometimes we could misunderstand how faith, and religion in particular has really embraced technology, whether it was the printing press, back many, many, centuries ago, or it's AI today. I'm here at the All In Summit in LA where a lot of the people that were at the AI dinner at the White House are. And it is these events and these type of initiatives that we hope, that we can lead and spearhead for religion, for the church, blending faith and technology in a very responsible way, very ethical way so that we can help people in their spiritual endeavors because we know that churches for decades have sat at the at the center of our communities and helped with social services and things like that. So as we see less people attending, we wanna help with that in some capacity, and we do that digitally.
Host: Do you have any thoughts yourself on that? It would be interesting to know what you think someone who's worked in technology and obviously has views on faith about why, in particular, like, that number of just nonaffiliated has gone up so much in 25 years, people who don't have any religion at all. What do you think is behind it?
Ryan Beck: You know, everyone has their opinions. My opinion is, I just look at the the data. Community has been forming online and offline, but more and more online. And so we see that the Internet has brought in a new way to do community. It's not just, online live or, in person live experiences like the Sunday service that you would go to. In the past, some people are making it hybrid, and they're bringing in, digital communities in the mix where they're doing live streams on Sunday with their family. And so we build that. We build technology to help in that digital divide. And and so I think the the technology is is, somewhat can help us understand why faith communities, are seeing less physical attendance. That doesn't mean the spiritual need isn't there. We're seeing spiritual trends still at all time highs. People need these spiritual connections, these connections to people, and to, something bigger than themselves.
Host: What about in recent years, like the last 5 years post pandemic or pandemic on out and how technology is work? You know, is it has it helped? I mean, have you seen changes in those trends since since the pandemic?
Ryan Beck: Yeah. I think that's great insight because what's happening is with the pandemic, there's a lot of lockdowns in a lot of states. And a lot of people couldn't go to in person events anymore, and so they turned online. And so we saw a huge boom on our platform as people started embracing technology in a a more aggressive way to to replace or to supplement live experiences that they just didn't have access to. And now that trend continues. Right? Some people are returning, but it's not like it used to be. And so they're turning towards digital communities like PRAY.COM to help with that. And they expect you know, they don't expect a, a tech lite faith experience. You know? They they want their digital experience to have all the bells and whistles of all the other digital experiences they have. And so that's what we seek to do is be at the forefront of faith and technology. And so we don't wanna we don't want to shortcut, we don't want to, diminish all that technology has to offer for the faith space for the faith space.
Host: Yeah. As a final point, Ryan, you talked about the president with the 250th anniversary celebration of the country and calling Americans to come together in prayer earlier, today. You know, what would you say about that? Like, what's the key to that? It it strikes me that a lot of this and it's funny because, you know, that I think a lot of the present supporters would agree with this in other areas is that there's a lack of faith right now in this country and institutions. And I think to some extent, religious institutions are are tied up in that as well. So what you're trying to do, it seems, is trying to turn that, trying to turn the tide on that. Isn't the next year or so a big part of it?
Ryan Beck: Well, you know, religion doesn't it's not red or blue or purple. You know, it's it's something beyond that. It's something that's lived with us for millennia. Right? And so people have been seeking something, beyond, country and self, and they found that in God. Right? And so that's what we help to to bring. And so when we get the opportunity to to work with the White House to actually bring faith to the people Right. And bring people from all different backgrounds together around, something as as important as faith, we're super excited. We're we're honored and humbled to be a part of that.
Host: Alright. Good conversation, Ryan. Thanks for coming on today. We appreciate it. PRAY.COM and, Ryan, Beck is the CTO.
This media interview showcases how PRAY.COM is positioning itself as a leader in faith-based technology, addressing declining religious attendance through digital innovation while maintaining ethical standards and supporting national spiritual unity initiatives.
Host: Hey. Ryan Beck is with us. Ryan's chief technology officer at PRAY.COM. So, alright. Here's Ryan. Welcome to the show. Is so is this, this one of the is this was this like an ethical line or question for you guys? I know you wanna spread the word, so to speak, and get out, your message, about religion and praying. Was using artificial intelligence up for debate internally?
Ryan Beck: Well, thanks for having me on. I appreciate it. You know, as we look at the current trends in technology, you think about what the the White House is doing, for Pray America 2025 to celebrate the 250th birthday of America. When they called us to, help in leading that initiative, we are excited since we stand at the forefront of, the technology, space for faith. And so we've been really embracing the cutting edge of technology, and we've been trying to do it in a respectful manner to the history of the church and of Christianity, but also in a way that helps embrace the the new trends to help Christianity and, to deliver its message worldwide. You you showed those trends, that was showing religious attendance on a decline. That's why PRAY.COM was started, to help fill that gap. As communities move digitally, we've introduced new technology to help them move digitally and find their faith and spirituality online.
Host: So it's interesting. Your your literal job description, I would suppose, that your chief technology officer at a company like this would be to use tech to try to get, messages about faith out, but just to blend technology and faith together, which seems to me to be kind of inherently challenging in some ways. Do you run into issues whether it's this or other issues where it's tough to do, where there where there are conflicts or or no?
Ryan Beck: You know, I think, you know, I appreciate that question. And and because that's, I think sometimes we could misunderstand how faith, and religion in particular has really embraced technology, whether it was the printing press, back many, many, centuries ago, or it's AI today. I'm here at the All In Summit in LA where a lot of the people that were at the AI dinner at the White House are. And it is these events and these type of initiatives that we hope, that we can lead and spearhead for religion, for the church, blending faith and technology in a very responsible way, very ethical way so that we can help people in their spiritual endeavors because we know that churches for decades have sat at the at the center of our communities and helped with social services and things like that. So as we see less people attending, we wanna help with that in some capacity, and we do that digitally.
Host: Do you have any thoughts yourself on that? It would be interesting to know what you think someone who's worked in technology and obviously has views on faith about why, in particular, like, that number of just nonaffiliated has gone up so much in 25 years, people who don't have any religion at all. What do you think is behind it?
Ryan Beck: You know, everyone has their opinions. My opinion is, I just look at the the data. Community has been forming online and offline, but more and more online. And so we see that the Internet has brought in a new way to do community. It's not just, online live or, in person live experiences like the Sunday service that you would go to. In the past, some people are making it hybrid, and they're bringing in, digital communities in the mix where they're doing live streams on Sunday with their family. And so we build that. We build technology to help in that digital divide. And and so I think the the technology is is, somewhat can help us understand why faith communities, are seeing less physical attendance. That doesn't mean the spiritual need isn't there. We're seeing spiritual trends still at all time highs. People need these spiritual connections, these connections to people, and to, something bigger than themselves.
Host: What about in recent years, like the last 5 years post pandemic or pandemic on out and how technology is work? You know, is it has it helped? I mean, have you seen changes in those trends since since the pandemic?
Ryan Beck: Yeah. I think that's great insight because what's happening is with the pandemic, there's a lot of lockdowns in a lot of states. And a lot of people couldn't go to in person events anymore, and so they turned online. And so we saw a huge boom on our platform as people started embracing technology in a a more aggressive way to to replace or to supplement live experiences that they just didn't have access to. And now that trend continues. Right? Some people are returning, but it's not like it used to be. And so they're turning towards digital communities like PRAY.COM to help with that. And they expect you know, they don't expect a, a tech lite faith experience. You know? They they want their digital experience to have all the bells and whistles of all the other digital experiences they have. And so that's what we seek to do is be at the forefront of faith and technology. And so we don't wanna we don't want to shortcut, we don't want to, diminish all that technology has to offer for the faith space for the faith space.
Host: Yeah. As a final point, Ryan, you talked about the president with the 250th anniversary celebration of the country and calling Americans to come together in prayer earlier, today. You know, what would you say about that? Like, what's the key to that? It it strikes me that a lot of this and it's funny because, you know, that I think a lot of the present supporters would agree with this in other areas is that there's a lack of faith right now in this country and institutions. And I think to some extent, religious institutions are are tied up in that as well. So what you're trying to do, it seems, is trying to turn that, trying to turn the tide on that. Isn't the next year or so a big part of it?
Ryan Beck: Well, you know, religion doesn't it's not red or blue or purple. You know, it's it's something beyond that. It's something that's lived with us for millennia. Right? And so people have been seeking something, beyond, country and self, and they found that in God. Right? And so that's what we help to to bring. And so when we get the opportunity to to work with the White House to actually bring faith to the people Right. And bring people from all different backgrounds together around, something as as important as faith, we're super excited. We're we're honored and humbled to be a part of that.
Host: Alright. Good conversation, Ryan. Thanks for coming on today. We appreciate it. PRAY.COM and, Ryan, Beck is the CTO.
This media interview showcases how PRAY.COM is positioning itself as a leader in faith-based technology, addressing declining religious attendance through digital innovation while maintaining ethical standards and supporting national spiritual unity initiatives.
