Award-winning journalist and author Cynthia Nyamai has challenged Christians to move beyond church services and apply their faith, knowledge and skills to solving societal problems, including those emerging from artificial intelligence.
Nyamai made the call during the launch of her new book, The Church Has Left the Building: Taking the Great Commission Beyond the Pulpit, at Nuria Bookstore in Nairobi.
The book challenges Christians to extend their influence beyond religious institutions into government, business, finance, media, education, healthcare, science and technology, arguing that faith should be reflected in practical solutions to society's challenges.
“People are not necessarily losing faith. They are losing patience with a Church whose power they hear about but cannot sufficiently see translated into solutions,” Nyamai said.
“If we say we carry the wisdom and power of God, then that wisdom must become visible in the way we solve problems, build institutions and shape society.”
She argues that the Church's contribution should be measured not only by attendance at services or the strength of prayer movements, but also by its impact on institutions, public leadership and people's everyday lives.
Her book draws on biblical figures such as Joseph, Daniel, Esther and Bezalel to illustrate how faith can translate into leadership, political influence, economic planning, creativity and practical problem-solving.
Nyamai said Christians should be equipped to participate in the decisions shaping society, rather than leave such responsibilities to people outside their faith communities.
“We need believers who can pray, but we also need believers who can sit at the tables where economic policy is written, technology is designed, capital is allocated and the narratives shaping nations are created,” she said.
Artificial intelligence is among the areas she believes Christians must engage with more actively as the technology reshapes employment, education, communications and business.
She said the changes raise questions about ethics, truth, human dignity and economic opportunity, requiring people of faith to contribute to discussions about how the technology is developed and used.
“Artificial intelligence is helping redesign the world in real time. The question is: where is the Church in that conversation? We cannot disciple nations while being absent from the systems determining their future,” she said.
Nyamai also pointed to the contrast between Africa's large Christian population and persistent challenges such as unemployment, corruption, poverty, inequality and weak institutions.
“There is a difference between Christian presence and Christian influence. If the Holy Spirit lives in millions of believers across Africa, then we must have the courage to ask: where are the solutions?” she said.
She described the question as a call for the Church to strengthen its contribution to society rather than a criticism of religious institutions.
The book does not argue against church gatherings. Instead, Nyamai says, worship and fellowship should equip believers to serve their communities and workplaces.
“Sunday must prepare us for Monday,” she said, adding that the values taught in church should be evident in how Christians conduct business, practise journalism, develop technology, lead institutions and serve the public.
She further argues that the Church cannot reclaim its influence simply by demanding that society listen to it. Its authority must be demonstrated through integrity, service, excellence, innovation and solutions.
“The Church does not regain authority by demanding that the world listen to us. We regain authority when we carry answers the world cannot ignore,” she said.
The book was launched in partnership with Nuria Books, the Museum of African Books and Kijiji, with Intentional Living as the publisher.
Nyamai is the founder and chief executive of CN Communications, a Nairobi-based strategic communications and public affairs firm working across East and West Africa. She has also contributed to Forbes Africa and received a Diageo Africa Business Reporting Award.
She has authored more than 18 titles under the Intentional Living imprint.
Through the new book, Nyamai calls on Christians to view workplaces, government offices, newsrooms, laboratories and technology companies as spaces where their faith can inform decisions and contribute to wider social change.