The Future of Christian Media in an AI-Driven World
In a rapidly evolving world marked by technological advancements and social challenges, Christian media professionals convened in London for the ‘Revive 2026’ conference. Hosted by the Christian Broadcasting Council (CBC) at Premier Christian Radio’s new headquarters, the event celebrated the CBC’s 40th anniversary while addressing the future of Christian communication.
The gathering brought together figures from various media sectors to discuss the implications of artificial intelligence, misinformation, and cultural divisions on Christian communication.
Oxford Professor John Lennox engaged in a conversation with keynote speaker and broadcaster Justin Brierley about the rise of AI. Lennox emphasized the dual nature of AI, highlighting its benefits in fields such as medicine and Bible translation while cautioning against potential pitfalls.
“Artificial intelligence has two sides,” Lennox stated. “It is a great help in many areas, including Christian mission. But there are huge dangers because it is going to make people lazy, and it is already doing so.”
Lennox pointed to academic research suggesting that even limited use of AI could impair critical thinking skills and warned of the mounting threat of misinformation and deepfakes. “The greatest danger is deception,” he warned. “Deepfakes are going to become increasingly realistic, and putting those fires out will become difficult.”
He urged Christian communicators to remain active in public discourse, advising, “Do not simply think about what you want to say. Think about how your message could be misunderstood.”
Another speaker, Gareth Russell, CEO of Jersey Road communications agency, presented insights from the ‘Christianity in the News Media Report 2025’. The report analyzed a year of mainstream media coverage of Christianity in the UK, revealing a tendency toward narrow and stereotypical portrayals.
Russell noted, “The narrative around Christianity has often been misrepresentative of our faith. We wanted to change that through better stories.” He highlighted the growing interest in faith among younger generations, which media narratives often overlook.
Russell cited the influence of Christian athletes and public figures as catalysts for these shifts, saying, “Young men are seeing sports personalities and public figures confidently talking about their faith.” He encouraged churches to share stories of community impact with the media.
“People don’t necessarily care that you are Christian,” he explained. “They care that you are doing good in the community.”
Lani Charlwood, executive director of Langham Arts and chair of Christians in Media, called for unity among Christians in media. “We are not called to uniformity of opinion,” she remarked. “We are called to unity of purpose.”
Charlwood described the role of Christian media as conveying “purpose, integrity, hope, challenge and justice” rather than divisiveness.
Reflecting on the influence of Christian broadcasting in the UK since 1995, Premier CEO Kevin Bennett remarked on the power of media to shape public discourse. “The media tells us what is on the agenda and what is important, it then sets the agenda. It then tells us how to understand the issues with how it frames them,” he observed.
He concluded with a quote from poet William Blake, “We become what we behold. We have to choose what we behold each day, whether that’s in the media or real life.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
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