Revival ‘Hoax,’ Super Bowl Numbers, the AI Boom, Scouting America
And more ‘signs and wonders’ from this week.
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Signs and Wonders” is a column that shares thoughts on news items that either do not rise to the level of a news story for MinistryWatch or are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” My goal is to be punchy, opinionated, and not to worry much about being slightly off brand. If that is not for you, no hard feelings. But if it is…read on.
Super Bowl Comparison. Warring Super Bowl halftime shows unexpectedly became a culture war battle this year. So, who won? It appears that about 20 million watched the Turning Point USA “alternative” to the Super Bowl halftime show. That’s a big number until you consider that the “regular” halftime show drew about 140 million on broadcast and streaming platforms. Make of that what you will.
Michigan Law Threatens Pro-Life Groups. WORLD is reporting that “two pro-life organizations sued Michigan officials in a district court Friday, contending that a state employment law forces them to hire individuals who may not share the same beliefs on human life.” The two groups are Right to Life of Michigan and the Pregnancy Resource Center, based in Grand Rapids, Mich. The law violates the groups’ First Amendment rights, according to the lawsuit. Alliance Defending Freedom is representing the pro-life groups.
Artificial Intelligence Boom. If you think the AI boom is smoke and mirrors, it might be time to think again. AI is having significant impact on the labor market, including ministries and churches. More than half of the ministry leaders MinistryWatch surveyed say their organizations are using AI tools in their work. I was in Silicon Valley last week for a meeting on how AI can be used in missions and ministry, and I was astonished by some of the things I saw and heard. (Stay tuned: my Editor’s Notebook, which we will publish in a day or two, will bring a full report.)
But we should also note that the changes could be disruptive. Axios is reporting that the “investment boom from AI and the infrastructure that makes it possible” is not “reaching workers.” Axios says, “Job openings have become scarce, and workers’ wages are no longer rising that rapidly. The share of gross domestic income going to employees’ wages and benefits was 51.4 percent in the third quarter, down from 58 percent in 1980.” Obviously, not all that change is attributable to AI, but much of it is attributable to AI plus automation of other kinds. Bottom line: AI offers huge opportunities, but there will be social costs and significant disruptions. Of course, those disruptions, too, offer opportunities for the church to be the church.
The Revival Hoax? Talk of revival in the U.S. continues. Those promoting the idea point to indicators such as Bible sales and Christian music downloads. I, like all Christians, earnestly pray for revival, but we are mostly measuring the wrong things in our search for evidence. (I’ve more to say about that here.) John Mac Ghlionn goes further than I am (so far) willing to go by calling all the talk of revival a “hoax.” Writing for “The Hill,” he says, “The revival narrative falls apart. What we are seeing is not a return to shared worship, shared discipline, or shared belief, but Christianity detached from its roots and repackaged for mass consumption.”
After marshalling impressive data to support his argument, he concludes: “America has not rediscovered Christianity. Instead, it has repurposed it. Revival does not arrive via algorithm, but in pews — you know, those wooden things gathering dust between Easter and Christmas. Until church attendance rivals Costco on a Saturday and belief deepens past bumper-sticker profundity, talk of revival is just manifesting with a side of Jesus.”
Scouting Relationship Evaluated. The U.S. Department of Defense has been reviewing its long-standing partnership with Scouting America, which dates back over a century and has traditionally included military support for events like the National Jamboree and allowing Scout units to meet on military bases. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, “no longer aligns” with what they view as traditional or core values and have framed these changes as inconsistent with the military’s recruitment and youth development goals.
In early February 2026, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced on social media that a review had taken place and that the Defense Department wants Scouting America to implement what it described as “core value reforms.” Scouting America has been given an opportunity to commit to these reforms to maintain military support. As of early February 2026, the Pentagon appears “near a final agreement” with Scouting America, suggesting that negotiations are ongoing and that military support might be preserved if the organization commits to the Pentagon’s requested changes.
Patti Garibay, the founder of American Heritage Girls, a Christian alternative to the Girl Scouts, said even if Scouting America makes the changes the Defense Department is demanding, the group should not be trusted. In a statement, she said, “Scouting America’s claims of returning to ‘core values’ ring hollow. When Scouting America now suggests it may be shifting again — this time away from DEI and gender ideology — it does not represent conviction. It represents calculation.”
Readers in Nashville, Los Angeles. I have some travel coming up in the next couple of months, and I would love to see you. I will be in Nashville later this month, February, and Los Angeles in April. I will be doing reader lunches in both cities. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected].
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