On September 30, ministry leaders gathered at Trinity Church of Portland for Discern & Build: a day of learning where AI fits ministry, and where it doesn't, followed by building working tools together. The question we heard most on the way out was simple: what's next?
Here's the answer. Hopeful 2027 is two days of hands-on AI workshops for leaders of churches, ministries, nonprofits, schools and companies, February 17–18, 2027, in Tampa Bay, Florida. Brilliance Labs is proud to be one of its partners.
Short talks. Then you build.
Hopeful isn't a conference you watch. Every short talk is followed by hands-on time with a coach beside you, working on your real problems: the spreadsheet that runs everything, the first agent you've wanted to try, the decision your team needs to make about what to adopt. Each workshop ends with something working.
There's no green room. Coaches are available throughout both days, at your table, with their laptops open next to yours. Guided conversations and panels bring in experienced practitioners, including Christians who work inside the labs building AI.
Why "Hopeful"
There's a lot of fear about AI right now. Hopeful exists to bring hope, with clear eyes about what these tools can and can't do. The name comes from Jeremiah 29:11, "plans to give you hope and a future," and the event is openly Christian in its leadership and coaches while welcoming everyone. Attendees aren't asked to sign a statement of faith. When the faith community and the technology community sit at the same table, good things get built.
Four tracks: H, P, F, L
The four letters in the name are the four tracks, so you can spend your time where it helps most:
- H · Hopeful: curious and new to AI. You've tried a chatbot, or not yet, and want to tell substance from hype. No coding needed.
- P · Power users: you already use AI every week and want to go further, with automations, agents and real workflows.
- F · Founders: you're starting or growing something (a ministry, a church plant or a business) and want to build it with AI from the start.
- L · Leaders: you decide for an established organization and need to know what to adopt, what to avoid and how to lead your team through it.
Not sure which fits? That's fine. Pick one when you save your seat, or leave it open, and you can change it anytime.
Come ready to build
Day one starts with building, not introductions. Before the event, everyone gets the opening talk to watch ahead of time and a short setup check, matched to their track, that their AI assistant runs for them. There's also a pre-event build challenge for anyone who wants a head start.
Make it a week in Tampa Bay
Our friends at Bitcoin Bay Foundation host Sound Money Weekend the two days after Hopeful, February 19–20: a conference at ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg, then the Soirée at The Vault in Tampa. Fly in once and get both. (Sound Money Weekend tickets are sold separately by Bitcoin Bay.)
Save your seat (free)
Tickets aren't on sale yet. Saving a seat is free, and nothing is charged today. Everyone who saves a seat gets first access when registration opens, with pricing and venue details. Teams are welcome: one form saves up to five seats, and you'll get a link to share with the people coming with you. Bringing a bigger group? Email hello@hpfl.ai.
Hopeful is expected to sell out, so saving seats early is the surest way in.
Partner with Hopeful
Hopeful is being built alongside Ligonier, Pioneers, Humble Beast, ViaForge, Bitcoin Bay Foundation and Brilliance Labs. If your ministry, church or company would like to help (as a sponsor, a roundtable host, with tools or tokens, or by sending staff and volunteers), use the partner form at hpfl.ai.
We'd love to see you in Tampa Bay in February.