Say AMEN to STEM: Bridging Faith and Innovation in Lawton, Oklahoma

WWT and Microsoft partnered with local churches and community organizations to equip pastors, youth ministers, and faith leaders with AI upskilling and STEM strategies. The workshop blended responsible AI education, hands-on STEM activities and fellowship—showing how faith communities can drive innovation. Participants left inspired, equipped and ready to integrate STEM into their ministries, nurture future leaders, and use technology as a ministry tool.

The Say AMEN to STEM workshop was designed to equip pastors, youth ministers, and faith-based leaders with AI upskilling and STEM strategies to strengthen community-based programs. By bridging faith and technology, the event empowered churches to see STEM not as separate from ministry, but as a powerful tool to develop youth programs, cultivate leadership and inspire innovation.

Experience & highlights

The workshop was described as robust, engaging and well-received, sparking meaningful conversations about the role of faith communities in preparing the next generation for a technology-driven world.

Unique experiences included:

A live webinar, "Say Amen to STEM," led by Dr. Natalie S. King
A session on social-emotional development in STEM learning
An AI Upskilling workshop facilitated by Microsoft and WWT (Guy McDonald & Shanice Brown)
A hands-on STEM activity (complete with ice-cream making!) co-facilitated by Dr. King's son, inspiring young learners by example
A faith-based fellowship meal hosted by Abundant Life Christian Church
A reflective closing Q&A, where leaders explored how to apply these lessons in their own ministries

Key learnings

Participants walked away with three powerful insights:

STEM and faith are complementary—churches can lead the charge in preparing future innovators.
AI upskilling is accessible—leaders gained hands-on exposure to tools like Microsoft Copilot and prompting basics.
Community partnerships amplify impact—when churches, nonprofits, and tech partners unite, youth have greater access to opportunity.

Why it matters

This workshop was part of Dr. King's 14-year mission to partner with churches and host summer STEM enrichment across the U.S. and beyond. For the past 7 years, Lawton, Oklahoma, has been a hub for these efforts through I AM STEM Camps. The collaboration with Microsoft and WWT added a new dimension this year: equipping pastors and faith leaders with AI literacy to strengthen their outreach.

Workshops like this are more than one-time trainings—they build confidence, create momentum and foster sustainable innovation in communities that need it most. By embedding AI education in trusted spaces like churches, WWT and Microsoft are helping expand access to technology while honoring the cultural and faith traditions that make communities thrive.

Reflections from Dr. Natalie S. King

On LinkedIn, Dr. King reflected:

She went on to thank community partners, including Spread the Word Ministries, MIGHT Technology and Learning Center, Powerhouse COGIC, and the Salvation Army Red Shield Youth Center, who will open their campuses this summer to host I AM STEM Camps.

Together, Say AMEN to STEM demonstrated that churches can be incubators of innovation. With AI as a new ministry tool, leaders are walking away equipped to empower youth, inspire communities and reimagine faith-based education in the digital age.