Media Interview: PRAY.COM's Ryan Beck on Faith, Technology, and America's Spiritual Future

In this media interview, Ryan Beck, Chief Technology Officer at PRAY.COM, discusses the intersection of faith and technology in modern America. The conversation explores how AI and digital platforms are being used to address declining religious attendance, the ethical considerations of using artificial intelligence in ministry, and PRAY.COM's role in supporting the White House's Pray America 2025 initiative for the nation's 250th anniversary. Beck addresses the shift toward digital faith communities, particularly accelerated by the pandemic, and how technology can bridge the gap between traditional religious practices and contemporary spiritual needs. ‍

By PRAY.COM Editorial Team · Published Sep 14, 2025 · Updated Aug 12, 2026 · 5 min read

Key takeaways

The interview begins with questions about whether using artificial intelligence presents ethical challenges for a faith-based organization.

The interviewer probes whether Beck's role as CTO at a faith organization creates inherent conflicts between technological advancement and religious values.

The conversation shifts to exploring reasons behind the 25-year trend of increasing religious non-affiliation in America.

Discussion of how COVID-19 affected religious engagement and technology adoption.

The interview concludes with discussion of PRAY.COM's role in national spiritual initiatives.

Key Takeaways

On Faith and Technology Integration

Historical precedent: Religious institutions have consistently embraced new technologies, from the printing press to AI
Responsible innovation: Emphasis on blending faith and technology in ethical, respectful ways that honor religious traditions
Digital community necessity: Technology fills gaps created by declining physical religious attendance

On Declining Religious Attendance

Data-driven perspective: Spiritual needs remain high despite declining physical church attendance
Community evolution: Religious community formation shifting from purely in-person to hybrid online/offline models
Digital expectations: Faith communities must offer sophisticated digital experiences matching other online platforms

On Pandemic Impact and Digital Transformation

Accelerated adoption: Lockdowns forced rapid embrace of digital faith platforms
Sustained change: Digital engagement continues post-pandemic, with many not returning to pre-2020 attendance levels
Platform growth: PRAY.COM experienced significant user increases during pandemic restrictions

On National Spiritual Leadership

Bipartisan spirituality: Faith transcends political divisions and represents something beyond partisan politics
White House collaboration: PRAY.COM's involvement in Pray America 2025 initiative for national unity‍
Community building: Technology used to bring people from diverse backgrounds together around shared spiritual values

Full Conversation Breakdown

Opening and Ethical Framework

The interview begins with questions about whether using artificial intelligence presents ethical challenges for a faith-based organization.

Ryan Beck's Position:

Faith communities have historically embraced technological advancement
AI adoption should be done respectfully, honoring religious history and traditions
Technology serves as a tool to help deliver Christian messages worldwide
PRAY.COM positions itself at the forefront of faith and technology integration

White House Initiative: Beck mentions PRAY.COM's involvement in the Pray America 2025 initiative, celebrating America's 250th anniversary, positioning the company as a technology leader in the faith space.

Technology-Faith Integration Challenges

The interviewer probes whether Beck's role as CTO at a faith organization creates inherent conflicts between technological advancement and religious values.

Beck's Perspective:

Religious institutions have consistently adopted new technologies throughout history
From printing press centuries ago to AI today, faith communities have been early adopters
Responsible and ethical implementation is key to successful integration
Churches have traditionally served as community centers providing social services
Digital platforms can extend this community service role as physical attendance declines

Analysis of Religious Decline

The conversation shifts to exploring reasons behind the 25-year trend of increasing religious non-affiliation in America.

Community Evolution Theory:

Online community formation has changed how people connect spiritually
Internet provides new models for religious engagement beyond traditional Sunday services
Hybrid approaches combining in-person and digital experiences are emerging
Technology addresses the "digital divide" in religious participation

Spiritual Needs vs. Attendance:

Physical attendance decline doesn't indicate reduced spiritual needs
Spiritual trends and seeking behavior remain at high levels
People still desire connections to something greater than themselves
Digital platforms can meet these needs when physical attendance isn't possible

Pandemic Impact and Digital Acceleration

Discussion of how COVID-19 affected religious engagement and technology adoption.

Pandemic-Driven Changes:

Lockdowns eliminated in-person religious gathering options
Forced rapid adoption of digital religious platforms
PRAY.COM experienced significant user growth during restrictions
Many people turned to technology to replace or supplement live religious experiences

Post-Pandemic Trends:

Some return to in-person attendance but not to pre-pandemic levels
Continued reliance on digital faith communities
Increased expectations for sophisticated digital religious experiences
Users expect "bells and whistles" comparable to other digital platforms

National Unity and Spiritual Leadership