On The Rise: Pastors and burnout (2026 update) + Prof fails class that used AI

Published 2 minutes ago • 4 min read

Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week.

Today, fresh data from the Barna Group on pastors and burnout in 2026, a Brown University professor fails an entire class after forbidding them to use AI, earbuds I love for cycling, and which do you think will happen first, the Second Coming or Grand Theft Auto VI? Sadly, you can bet on it.

Pastors Say These Things Will Help Resolve Burnout

Less people want to quit, but satisfaction is low.

There’s mixed news from Barna on pastors' health. The best part, as we've seen, is that fewer pastors want to quit, but many are still struggling to flourish in their roles.

Barna asked pastors what would be most helpful. Interestingly, they didn't think talking to their board or a therapist was going to provide much help. Many still look to sabbaticals for relief and for extended time off, while others identified the need to renegotiate their role as a good solution.

As to sabbaticals and extended vacations, I continue to think developing a sustainable pace is the best approach. After all, time off won't heal you if the problem is how you spend your time on.

Stop Guessing What AI Means for Your Church

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I wrote this book because most of what's out there on AI and the church is either hype or panic, and neither one helps you plan next Sunday, let alone the next five years. This is different. It's a clear-eyed look at what's actually changing, what it means for how people find answers now, and what the church still offers that no chatbot ever will: real connection.

Inside, I walk through the specific shifts you need to make, and the practical moves you can start this year, not someday.

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Professor Says Most of His Class Used AI To Cheat

Then he made the final exam AI proof and the class bombed.

Brown professor Roberto Serrano gave his economics class a take-home midterm for the first time in almost twenty years of teaching. His enrollment more than doubled when students heard there was a take-home exam.

The average came back at 96%. His normal range is 65 to 80%.

So he ran the exam through ChatGPT to check his hunch. The AI's answers used the exact same weird logic and gave the same answers. Thus, Serrano confirmed his hunch: the students all pretty much used AI to write the exam.

So, Serrano called their bluff and announced the final exam would be in person (no laptops). Right after that declaration, 18 students dropped the class.

The results proved him right; when students had to rely on their own cognition, three students earned a zero, and the average score on the final dropped to 48.6 percent—by far a historic low, he said. Previously, the average final exam score had never dropped below 65 percent. Only a few students scored similarly to how they did on the midterm.

The bottom line? Using AI to learn and think for you is the surest way to rot your brain.

Pastors, think about how you’re using AI to write messages and do spiritual work. And leaders, as you bring on young team members, you now have a whole new training ground to explore with them on how to use and not use it.

Every Church Has the Opportunity to Make a Lasting Impact in its Community

Knowing where to start can be challenging.

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Recommendation

Earbuds I love for runners and cyclists

I usually bring you books in this space, but sometimes I find other things that I love.

I recently bought a pair of Shockz Open Dots 2 Earbuds and absolutely love them. The idea is that they use bone conduction to transmit sound while leaving your ear canals open to hear traffic and ambient motion around you—perfect for cyclists and runners.

I use them for more than just rides, and the sound is much clearer and better than you think it would be. Highly recommend.

Check It Out

You Can Bet That Your People Are Betting

Prediction markets are quadrupling this year.

We’ve covered Prediction markets before, but not their rapid growth. Prediction markets are expected to quadruple this year and grow to $1 trillion by 2030.

Prediction markets, in case you're still new to the developing story, give people the ability to bet on just about anything, and people are embracing it.

When I say anything, I mean anything...

There’s one market called the "Second Coming vs. GTA VI”. People are betting on whether Jesus Christ returns before Grand Theft Auto VI actually ships. It's pulled in over $60 million in trading volume, priced at just a few percent, but tens of millions of dollars have been staked on it anyway.

Also, any idea on what the market's saying on the preacher going over 35 minutes this Sunday?

Think of it as more ways for young people in your church to go broke.