Can AI Navigate and Strengthen Our Faith? A Missionary’s Perspective

In an age where digital spaces are often described with "doom and gloom," Rev. Dr. Sarah Han brings a refreshing perspective rooted in faith and mission. As an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Tyndale University and a seasoned leader in Canadian immigrant churches, Dr. Han has spent her life navigating cultural and spiritual frontiers.

In this thought-provoking conversation with Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime on Day1 Episode #4170, Dr. Han reflects on her experience serving in China’s underground church movement and how it compares to the modern digital landscape. She highlights an essential truth: the darker the space, the brighter the light of Jesus shines.

With a powerful analogy about counterfeit currency, Dr. Han encourages Christians to stay deeply rooted in God’s truth, equipping the next generation to discern and shine as witnesses of Christ in an evolving world.
 

 

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Transcript: A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Sarah Han

Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime
00:00-00:18
How does the experience of entering a new culture as a Christian missionary compare to navigating the digital landscapes of social media and AI? When it comes to boundary crossing, do you feel like one prepared you for another in some ways?

Rev. Dr. Sarah Han
00:18-02:21
Yeah, I think when we were in China as a family, something that was really shaped in me is that the darker the space you're in, the brighter the light of Jesus shines.

I saw that in a lot of the underground churches in China—where people were persecuted for their faith, where young people were disappearing because of their faith and displaced from homes and family. And yet, their zeal and passion for God was unlike anything I had ever seen in Canada.

And it's the same with digital space. So many conversations about the digital age are filled with doom and gloom—what are we going to do? Is the next generation doomed? Will faith survive?

But I have so much hope. The darker things become, the brighter the real things shine.

It reminds me of working in retail in high school. When they trained us to spot counterfeit money, they didn’t give us fake bills to study. Instead, they gave us a real hundred-dollar bill and had us examine it—feel it, smell it, crinkle it, know its texture and sound.

The idea was, if you knew what was real so well, you would immediately recognize a counterfeit when you saw it.

And in many ways, that’s how we should train our faith communities—whether we’re entering persecuted nations or digital spaces shaped by tech companies and cultural agendas.

If we are teaching the next generation to truly know the real Jesus, then when counterfeits come their way, the light of Christ will only shine brighter.
 

 

Reflection

Dr. Sarah Han’s words are a powerful reminder that our faith is not dictated by the darkness around us, but by the light within us. Whether facing persecution in underground churches or engaging with the challenges of AI and social media, the call remains the same: be deeply rooted in God’s truth.

This message is particularly relevant for preachers, educators, and church leaders seeking to guide congregations through today’s digital age. How do we train believers to discern truth from deception? By knowing Christ so well that anything counterfeit becomes obvious.

As we step into the coming week, consider these questions:

• How can we better equip the next generation to recognize and reflect Christ’s light in today’s world?
• In what ways have fear and uncertainty about the digital age shaped your faith conversations?
• What are some practical ways your community can stay deeply connected to Jesus in an ever-changing culture?  
   
  

Explore Rev. Dr. Sarah Han’s full sermon from Episode 4170 >>>