Technology

The A.M.E. Zion Church Adopts New Common Measurement for the Health of its Churches and Congregations

Published

1 year ago

December 4, 2024

Announcement is the first from a major U.S. denomination, leveraging Gloo technology and research from Barna and Harvard

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The African Methodist Episcopal Zion (A.M.E. Zion) Church denomination announced the broad adoption of the State of Your Church metrics for all of its 1,600 churches in the United States. The A.M.E. Zion Church will now have a common way to track the health of its congregations, along with the holistic well-being of its 1.5 million congregants.

“Our churches have always tracked traditional things such as church membership growth and decline, attendance and monetary giving,” said Rev. Dr. J. Elvin Sadler, General-Secretary Auditor of the A.M.E. Zion Church. “Until now, we’ve lacked the insight to understand how church culture, people and congregations are truly doing. The State of Your Church dashboards will give us a better sense of the spirit and language of the culture (ethos), and powerful new tools to put in the hands of every pastor.”

Formed through the work of The Barna Group and Gloo, the State of Your Church includes an open-sourced framework designed to give every church, denomination, and Christian organization a common way to measure what matters in ministry. Composed of the seven dimensions of flourishing people and the 15 dimensions of church thriving, the metrics are the foundation of a kit available to every church.

Churches measure their people along the seven flourishing dimensions, and also track the thriving of their churches along 15 dimensions grouped into the categories of nurturing, sending and leading. The complete set of metrics is gathered through a free assessment, the Barna ChurchPulse. It can be deployed and used by any church, for free, using Gloo.

“We are encouraging every one of our U.S. churches to better understand and interpret the condition of their congregations and communities,” said Rev. Dr. Eleazar Merriweather, Director of the Department of Church Growth and Development. “Having this information will allow our pastors and leaders to better know and care for their people. It will also give District and Annual Conferences the data needed to better equip each church.”

Bishop Darryl B. Starnes Sr., Senior Bishop of The A.M.E. Zion Church and Administrative Board Chair of the Department of Church Growth and Development said, “The world is changing. How we did church in the 20th century and even the last 10 years of this century has shifted dramatically. Serving and meeting the needs of an ever-changing culture can only happen with having the proper tools and resources to impact our communities. The A.M.E. Zion Church fully supports the 15 dimensions of thriving congregations and seven dimensions of human flourishing and looks forward to partnering with Gloo and Barna to positively and effectively impact our churches and communities.”

Gloo provides tools to enable the new measures, as part of a State of Your Church kit. The kit leverages free texting tools, online assessment technology, promotional materials, and dashboards so that church leaders can give every congregation member a personal report on how they are flourishing. Each congregant has the option to share their results back to the church in an identified or anonymized form. Church leaders then get a church-wide report to better see the overall levels of flourishing in their people and the thriving scores for their church, which helps them to better serve their congregation as a whole.

“Church leaders realize that something has changed when it comes to growing their attendance, giving, and other conventional measures,” said Brad Hill, chief solutions officer at Gloo. “We’re thrilled that A.M.E. Zion will be equipping all of its pastors with tools to navigate ministry in today’s world. The State of Your Church was built to help pastors not only know their people better but also to more effectively disciple them with the resources and next steps so that every person can grow.”

The A.M.E. Zion Church Department of Church Growth and Development will be promoting the State of Your Church kit throughout its various denominational conferences and events in 2025.

Gloo is the platform company for the Christian ecosystem. As a leading technology innovator, Gloo connects ministry leaders to resources, people, data and insights and funding so their people and communities flourish and their organizations thrive. Gloo is based in Boulder, Colorado.

The A.M.E. Zion Church, founded in 1796, has more than 1.5 million members, providing education through one of the largest school systems in partnership with the Nation of Ghana, as well as through colleges and seminaries, in addition to hospitals and other outreach and humanitarian activities in many areas around the world. Known as “The Freedom Church,” with such notable figures as its founding Bishop James Varick, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Paul Robeson, and Coretta Scott King, the denomination has 6,000+ churches in 27 countries and five continents around the world.

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SOURCE Gloo

Technology

SiriusXM Media Becomes Exclusive Audio Advertising Representative for YouTube in the United States

Published

13 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

YouTube, Home of The World’s Number One Podcast Platform and a Leading Music Service, Chooses Audio Ad Powerhouse SiriusXM Media as Its Exclusive Audio Sales Representative in the U.S.

New Deal Cements SiriusXM’s Leadership In Powering The Largest Ad-Supported Audio Ecosystem And Gives Brands Exclusive Access To YouTube’s Audio-First Inventory

NEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SiriusXM (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced a new audio advertising partnership with Google that connects YouTube to one of the largest audio advertising platforms in North America. The agreement makes SiriusXM Media, the advertising group representing SiriusXM, Pandora, and expansive Streaming and Podcast Networks, the exclusive advertising representative of YouTube audio advertising inventory in the U.S. This will provide advertisers access to guaranteed impressions at scale for the first time, backed by similar sophisticated targeting and measurement as YouTube’s ecosystem.

“Audio is one of the most powerful mediums for listeners, creators, and advertisers alike, and at SiriusXM Media, we’re proud to be at the forefront helping brands harness that impact at scale,” said Scott Walker, SiriusXM’s Chief Advertising Revenue Officer. “By partnering with YouTube, a true leader in ad-supported content consumption, we’re uniting our unique skillset with their audience, creating an unparalleled opportunity for marketers and creators to grow their businesses.”

“YouTube has become a primary destination for audio-first content, where fans engage with their favorite podcasts, music, and creators,” said Romana Pawar, Senior Director of Product, YouTube Ads. “By partnering with SiriusXM Media, we are making it easier than ever for advertisers to tap into these high-attention moments.”

YouTube audio ads reach listeners wherever they are across audio-first content and behaviors: immersed in podcasts, talk shows, and music. By meeting users in environments primed for listening and engagement, such as when YouTube content is playing on smart speakers, brands can tap into high-intent listening experiences across YouTube’s vast creator ecosystem. According to a study from SiriusXM Media and Edison Research, there are more than 212 million monthly listeners in the U.S.1 engaging in audio-first content or environments on YouTube.

Starting this fall, advertisers will be able to buy guaranteed audio ad impressions against YouTube’s high-value audiences at scale for the first time directly through SiriusXM Media—paired with an audio-first activation approach to extend reach and impact. Brands can now reach YouTube’s expansive, next-generation and highly engaged audience in the same place where they buy SiriusXM Media’s leading portfolio of ad-supported audio inventory, ensuring a seamless buying experience powered by AdsWizz Inc.’s ad tech platform. As audio continues to reach consumers as a constant companion throughout the day, from commuting to working hours, this deal gives brands an opportunity to reach a valuable audience that is further leaning into audio-first behaviors and content on YouTube in high-attention moments.

Powered by AdsWizz, SiriusXM Media now offers access to 255 million monthly listeners2—reaching nearly 90% of the U.S. population 13+—delivering expansive scale and incremental reach, best-in-class measurement and targeting capabilities, and premium brand-safe environments across every major audio touchpoint. The landmark partnership with YouTube highlights SiriusXM’s commitment to an open, partner-first audio advertising ecosystem, continuing to connect advertisers to premium audio content wherever audiences choose to listen.

For more information, please visit https://www.siriusxmmedia.com/advertise-on-youtube-audio.

About Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
SiriusXM is the leading audio entertainment company in North America with a portfolio of audio businesses including its flagship subscription entertainment service SiriusXM; the ad-supported and premium music streaming services of Pandora; an expansive podcast network; and a suite of business and advertising solutions. SiriusXM offers a broad range of content for listeners everywhere they tune in with a diverse mix of live, on-demand, and curated programming across music, talk, news, and sports. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.

Media Contacts:
Victoria Chow, victoria.chow@siriusxm.com
Erica Walsh, ericawalsh@google.com

1 Edison Research, Infinite Dial 2026 + SiriusXM Media
2 Edison Research, Infinite Dial 2026 + SiriusXM Media

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SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

Technology

ServiceForge plants two million trees worldwide

Published

13 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

The company celebrates a meaningful milestone in its ongoing initiative to make a lasting impact within global communities

PORTLAND, Ore., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ServiceForge, the 24/7 live answering and customer service platform built for skilled trades and home service businesses, announces a significant achievement in its ongoing sustainability drive: the company has now planted more than two million trees worldwide, a milestone reached in time for Earth Day 2026.

Each month, ServiceForge plants one tree for every employee and every customer. What began as a simple commitment to give back has grown into a meaningful, long-term impact effort, now surpassing a major milestone. This accomplishment reflects the company’s continued dedication to environmental stewardship and community-focused values.

For context, two million trees adds up to:

Approximately 4,000 acres of forestRoughly 3,000 football fieldsTrees sufficient to remove an estimated 44,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year (equivalent of taking 9,500 cars off the road)

“This milestone reflects the kind of work we believe in: steady, intentional and rooted in real impact,” said Jane Blanchard, head of brand and marketing for ServiceForge. “In the skilled trades, success isn’t about quick wins; it’s about the slow, human work of strengthening homes, businesses and communities. Planting trees is a natural extension of that mission. It’s a way for us to contribute to something lasting, something that grows alongside the businesses we serve.”

ServiceForge partners with verified reforestation organizations that plant trees in areas affected by deforestation, wildfires and climate change. Partners include Trees for the Future, Save the Redwoods League and Friends of Pando, ensuring that each tree contributes to restoration efforts where it’s needed most.

“We’re in the business of fixing things,” Blanchard said. “What better way to exemplify that commitment than by planting trees, which clean the air, restore habitats and ultimately make the world a better place.”

For more information about ServiceForge and their Giving Back initiative, visit https://www.serviceforge.com/why-serviceforge/givingback

About ServiceForge
ServiceForge helps home service businesses get found, get booked and get paid with 24/7 human answering, scheduling, lead qualification and payments. By combining smart technology with real human connection, ServiceForge helps service businesses stand out in an increasingly disconnected world, ensuring contractors capture more jobs while delivering exceptional customer service. For more information, visit serviceforge.com.

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SOURCE ServiceForge

Technology

Contractor Commerce launches AI-powered conversational buying experience

Published

13 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

New technology ushers in new era of e-commerce for home service contracting companies

LEBANON, Ohio , April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Contractor Commerce, a leading e-commerce and sales enablement platform built specifically for home service contractors, announces the next evolution in its platform: a conversational buying experience that’s powered by AI and designed to improve the way homeowners shop for residential services online.

By empowering home service professionals to establish their own virtual storefronts, Contractor Commerce has long championed a modern buying experience, fully aligned with the way consumers seek information on the web, including through guided buying journeys and seamless purchasing flows. With conversational buying, Contractor Commerce embeds AI directly into the shopping experience, allowing the end consumer to enjoy a more natural, personalized and responsive process.

“This shift from guided to conversational shopping builds on everything we’ve done up to this point,” said Paul Redman, president of Contractor Commerce. “Our goal has always been to help contractors meet homeowners where they are. This advanced and intuitive approach will further that goal, and cement Contractor Commerce as a category leader.”

Contractor Commerce’s expanded capabilities are designed to reflect how homeowners buy today: researching options, comparing pricing and making decisions in a time and place that’s most convenient to them. Features include:

An image upload option, allowing homeowners to submit photos of their home systems to receive specific, real-time recommendations.Robust pricing tools, including quote comparisons and full rebate integration, enabling homeowners to fully assess their options and understand the fine print.An AI agent-guided buying journey, providing homeowners with personalized assistance even when they are not fully sure what types of services they need.

“Our conversational buying platform is made for contractors, not retailers,” Redman said. “The goal is to help businesses establish trust, improve their lead qualification process and capture after-hours demand, all while providing customers with a frictionless shopping experience.”

For more information about Contractor Commerce, visit ContractorCommerce.com.

About Contractor Commerce

Contractor Commerce is the pioneer and industry leader in providing e-commerce services for contractors, offering plug-and-play online stores for home service companies so they can grow their sales and serve customers with convenience and transparent pricing. To learn more about Contractor Commerce and its innovative solutions, visit ContractorCommerce.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/contractor-commerce-launches-ai-powered-conversational-buying-experience-302749472.html

SOURCE Contractor Commerce