Dr. Wendi Lord on The Chosen, Translation + AI in a Rapidly Changing World

In this episode of Space for Life, host Tommy Thompson is joined by Dr. Wendi Lord , Vice President of Localization for the Come and See Foundation , the organization responsible for taking The Chosen to the world. Wendi shares her journey from the corporate and publishing worlds into a calling that sits at the intersection of faith, technology, and human flourishing. The conversation explores the ambitious mission to translate The Chosen into 600 languages, the importance of delivering content in heart languages, and how emerging technologies like AI are being thoughtfully used to serve people who would otherwise never hear the story of Jesus. Together, Tommy and Wendi wrestle with both the promise and the risks of new technologies, discussing how AI can support spiritual formation, creativity, and global connection without replacing human discernment, community, or God’s sovereignty. This episode offers a hopeful and grounded vision for engaging technology faithfully while staying rooted in what matters most. Key Topics The mission of The Chosen and the Come and See Foundation Dr. Wendi Lord’s journey from corporate leadership to faith based work Why localization is more than translation The concept of heart languages and cultural relevance Reaching a billion people through technology and storytelling Using AI to support translation and lower resourced languages Opportunities and threats presented by emerging technologies Faith, discernment, and God’s sovereignty in a digital age Human flourishing in a technology driven world (0:00) Introduction and Wendi’s Story (4:34) From Corporate Leadership to Calling (12:07) The Chosen and the Mission of Come and See (18:15) Reaching a Billion People Through Story (26:09) The Role of AI in Localization and Translation (31:48) Speech to Speech Technology and Heart Languages (39:31) Risks and Threats of Emerging Technologies (49:14) Opportunities for Faith, Creativity, and Human Flourishing (56:30) Balancing Technology With Human Connection (1:05:49) Final Encouragement and Hope Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org