Early Warning (Paperback)

I've watched David Swisher guide educators and ministry leaders through technological disruption for years, and Early Warning distills that rare wisdom into essential reading for pastors. His chapters on VR and metaverse ministry opened my eyes to mission fields I'd walked through and been unsure of. The care he puts into talking about potential pitfalls as well as opportunities for every topic is something that will challenge your assumptions and equip you to lead faithfully through the digital disruptions already reshaping ministry.

Early Warning is more than a book—it’s a lifeline, a lightning rod, and a lighthouse. David Swisher doesn’t just help us “weather the storm” of technological disruption; he trains us to become storm chasers for Christ. With the eyes of a historian, the heart of a pastor, and the imagination of a futurist, Swisher offers not gadgets and gimmicks but guidance and grace. This book is not about running from disruption but running toward it with faith, courage, and hope.

Swisher shows that the storms of AI, blockchain, the metaverse, and autonomous tech are not threats to be feared but thresholds to be crossed—opportunities to reimagine ministry for a new generation. If you want to help your people not just survive disruption but sing in the storm, this is the book you’ve been waiting for. David Swisher is the early warning system the church desperately needs.

David Swisher's Early Warning is a wonderfully interesting, insightful, and wise look at the technologies of our times, with historical insights, biblical frameworks, and sober analysis. Ministry leaders would do well to read and discuss it.

As a district superintendent working with more than 100 churches, I am pleased to endorse Dr. David Swisher's insightful book on navigating disruptive technology innovation for pastors and ministry leaders. This timely resource offers a compelling and practical guide for integrating technological advancements into ministry with wisdom and purpose. Dr. Swisher skillfully blends deep understanding, actionable strategies, and a heartfelt commitment to ministry, providing church leaders with a clear framework to address the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly evolving landscape. I strongly recommend this book to ministry professionals seeking to lead their congregations with confidence and foresight in an age of technological transformation.

Dr. David Swisher’s many years of professional experience and hands-on use of technology in varied and diverse settings makes him a prime resource for this type of book. His historical perspective gives important foundational insights along with scripture reference. Yet to me, one of the most powerful aspects of this book are his interesting vignettes that really make the information come alive with realistic examples and pragmatic descriptions of effective technological use. This is a much-needed book for any one that wants to lead with insightful wisdom in a world dominated with fast-paced and ongoing technological change.

We all can see the technology storm coming, but the church has adapted to technological storms in every era. My hope is that we can not only adapt this time but even thrive in coming years in what might be our greatest challenge so far. David Swisher's book offers church leaders a clear, hope-filled guide for navigating technological disruption with both wisdom and courage as we "lead proactively rather than reactively" as he advises. After reading Swisher's work, I hope we can all feel like we've got an “early warning system in place.…" As he says, "You can not only thrive, but even offer your congregation hope and peace in the midst of the storm.” The tech analysis and practical ministry experience combined in Early Warning promises to show church leaders how to face disruption faithfully, and without fear.

Swisher has written a book of practical wisdom that will help all leaders navigate the emerging features of our technological culture with biblical fidelity, theological sensitivity, and missional ingenuity. He avoids the traps of unreflective optimism and unwarranted pessimism by steering a wise path through the risks and opportunities of current innovations for the future of the church. What we are given is not just a primer on developing technologies, nor merely advice on how to incorporate them into ministry settings, but a compendium of principles that help us discern the signs of the times and respond with faithful confidence.

I had the honor of working with David at Tabor College. He knows his stuff when it comes to educational technology. Early Warning proves it.

Today, the church is faced with a technological storm of immense proportions. We struggle to understand, much less how to engage, this multifaceted challenge. Fortunately, we now have a reliable guide in David Swisher, who brings his extensive background in emerging technology and Christian ministry to gift us with this outstanding book. If, like me, you know little about the myriad technologies found on the internet, you will learn much from David's clear presentation. But more than that, his theologically sound insights help us navigate the pitfalls and embrace the opportunities for ministry in these new technologies. This is an enormously helpful book, and I cannot recommend it enough!

Dr. David Swisher has a deep and palpable love for the local church. His focus on mission drives him to help churches use technology to enhance their work to make the world a more just and beautiful place. That passion for mission along with expertise in technology and change makes this work a must read for leaders seeking to be good stewards of the organizations they lead.

David is a great storyteller with a talent for weaving church history with modern-day scenarios that drive home important ideas and cement them into reality. If you're feeling uncertain about technology in the church, this book is your guide. Prepare to be inspired and equipped.

Rapid change happens. Change raises questions. What is happening? Can I live with it? Is it to be shunned or embraced? AI and other technological changes are rapidly transforming society, churches, the economy, research, writing, and mundane daily tasks. To what future should leaders lead? Swisher provides a remarkably useful tome that demystifies the origins and development of diverse technologies, discusses applicability, and offers constructive guidance for leaders and organizations: look for the new opportunities! The volume is multi-disciplinary: historical, theological, technological; an important contribution to cultural history. It is informative, provocative, and a fun read!