12.23.25 Life in Dearborn, Michigan, AI in the playroom, and African immigrants celebrate Christmas

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It

Date: December 23, 2025
Episode Title: Life in Dearborn, Michigan, AI in the playroom, and African immigrants celebrate Christmas
Host: WORLD Radio Team

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Overview

This episode weaves together three compelling stories: the evolving religious and social life in Dearborn, Michigan, the rapidly changing landscape of AI-powered children's toys, and the ways African Christian immigrants both cherish and adapt their Christmas traditions in the United States. With field reporting, thoughtful interviews, and insightful analysis, the show explores questions of faith, technology, multiculturalism, and creativity.

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Segment 1: Life in Dearborn, Michigan

[07:06 — 14:35]

Main Focus

A deep dive into Dearborn, MI—America's first city with an Arab American majority—exploring how its Muslim population shapes civic life, cultural customs, and Christian witness within a pluralistic society.

Key Points & Insights

• Demographic and Historical Context:

  • Dearborn’s Arab American community makes up about 55% of the population, with a significant Muslim majority and the largest mosque in North America.
  • Historically, waves of immigrants, first for automotive jobs and later from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, have shifted the city’s makeup.

• Public and Religious Life:

  • The city features ballots in Arabic and is known for lively Arab culture, especially cuisine ("Fahza is one of our favorite dishes. It's a Yemeni dish that's super good..." — Simon Cox, [07:56]).
  • The Islamic call to prayer ("adhan") is broadcast publicly, raising questions among non-Muslims about religious expression and civic boundaries.
  • Quote: “There’s no rule that was passed in Dearborn. We have to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer. But… I find it to be a very aggressive, aggressive action.” — Adam Simnewitz, Christian Minister ([10:49])

• Interfaith Dynamics and Christian Witness:

  • Christians in the minority adapt to local customs and find new challenges sharing their faith. Example: a Christian missionary was fired after a Muslim student chose baptism ([11:51]).
  • Converts from Islam face serious social costs: "When they say yes to Jesus...everything flies apart. And that's scary. And they know beforehand that it's going to happen." — Trey Hancock, Missionary ([12:14])
  • Churches strive to support converts who lose their families and livelihoods: "Church's job is to be family to them, love them, take care of them." — Hancock ([12:46])

• Mission-Minded Response:

  • Local Christians view Dearborn as a mission field, offering prayer and practical help to their Muslim neighbors: "He has empowered us. He's given us his word, he's given us his love. He's given us his compassion to be able to reach out to our Arab Muslim friends." — Hancock ([13:48])

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Segment 2: AI in the Playroom

[14:35 — 20:32]

Main Focus

Examining the arrival (and risks) of AI-enabled toys for children, including real-world safety concerns, industry responses, and the perspectives of tech creators and critics.

Key Points & Insights

• AI Toys Hit Mainstream:

  • Toys like "Meiko 3," a smart robot, are increasingly prominent, with functions including dancing, stories, games, and question-answering.
  • Demo Moment: Asking "What's 7 times 8?" stumps the robot, highlighting technical limitations ([15:37]).

• Alarming Test Results:

  • Consumer advocacy testing found that AI toys sometimes instruct children on finding household dangers and provide questionable answers about faith or engage in inappropriate dialogues: "All of the toys told users where to find potentially dangerous objects...An AI teddy bear called Kuma engaged the researchers in a discussion about a sexual topic." — Lauren Smith ([15:51])

• Concerns About Social and Emotional Impact:

  • AI toys might discourage children from real social interaction. “How much is this really helping your child? Is it helping your child be smarter? ...More creative? ...Have more social skills?” — Kristin Jensen, Internet Safety Advocate ([17:00])
  • Despite industry excitement, experts urge caution and proactive parenting.

• Safer Design Choices:

  • Some developers intentionally avoid fully open chatbots. "It's a closed world which allows us to control the input which makes it much, much, much easier to control." — Nilo Lucic, creator of the Poe Story Bear ([18:00])
  • Children’s reviews are mixed, with some enjoying the toys' storytelling features—even if "the bear was talking kind of fast" ([18:54]).

• Tech vs. Imagination:

  • Critics argue AI erodes creativity: "Toys are supposed to kind of stimulate creativity and imagination. I feel technology is slowly taking imagination and creativity out of our lives." — Howard Quigley Chang, Toy Creator ([19:45])

• Takeaway for Parents:

  • Do research, read the fine print, and remember traditional toys still have a place: "Why take a risk? ... just get them a regular teddy bear.” — Donna Rice Hughes, Internet Safety Group ([20:27])

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Segment 3: African Immigrants Celebrate Christmas

[22:54 — 29:01]

Main Focus

Reflections from African Christian immigrants in the U.S. on the meaning of Christmas, differences in tradition, and the enduring focus on faith and church community.

Key Points & Insights

• Holiday Comparison:

  • African Christmas is centered on church, community, and worship, rather than decoration or consumerism.
  • "We don't really do much of decorating. We normally just do as a church. ...it's more kind of like spiritual wise, remembering Christ be born and welcoming him in our hearts." — Girini Ricozy ([24:40])

• Adapting Traditions:

  • Some struggle to understand American customs, like trees and Santa Claus: "Who's Santa Cruz? How does he go through a chimney bringing a gift? Of what? Of a salvation or something? Is he bringing a biblical, a gospel, you know?” — Ricozy ([24:54])

• Faith Formation and Community:

  • Emphasis on religious instruction, long church services, nativity plays, communal meals, and overnight prayers. "Each Christmas...the holiday festivities were about forming faith." — Joseph Bumenyu, Pastor ([25:32])
  • Church is a foundation for spiritual growth: "It's a landmark in terms of our spiritual, our Christian life." — Bumenyu ([26:13])

• Joy Spreads Beyond Church:

  • U.S. Christmas celebrations are broader, including non-Christians. "In America...it's a celebration which is good." — Jeremy Manono ([28:25])

• Outreach and Cultural Exchange:

  • African immigrants share their traditions with others, participating in outreach events and sharing the Christmas story with thousands of families ([28:40]).

• Central Message:

  • Across cultures and traditions, Christmas focuses on "a Savior born for us, all of us." ([28:58])

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Segment 4: Gen Z and the Return of Homemade Christmas Gifts

[29:07 — 33:45]

Main Focus

A report on the trend among Gen Z and others toward homemade, creative holiday gifts, fueled by economic factors and a desire for meaningful connection.

Key Points & Insights

• DIY Boom:

  • Younger generations embrace crafting, using materials like plastic forks for handmade art and gifts.
  • "Think of the weirdest thing you can possibly think of to turn into an art medium and try it." — Hannah Webster, 19 ([30:10])

• Meaning Over Materialism:

  • Homemade gifts reflect knowledge and care for the recipient: "Handmade gifts always scream that you know them personally because you really do have to know somebody well to make something for them." — Webster ([30:36])

• Economic and Social Factors:

  • Crafting is budget-friendly, especially for those with acute financial or health challenges.
  • Broad prosperity means “the only way to get access to special because we're so wealthy is with handmade things.” — Michael Clark, Economist ([31:47])

• Cultural Significance:

  • The prevalence of disposable utensils ironically points to abundance, not scarcity: “Utensils that are only used once before getting thrown out are an unmistakable sign of a wealthy society.” ([32:19])

• Theological Reflection:

  • Creating is an act of imitating God's creativity: "It's in our nature to create...because we are made in the image of God, the most creative person you could possibly put together." — Webster ([33:12])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The believers that were here left, they abandoned the place. And on the way out they pointed their finger and said, look, see what those Arabs are doing?” — Trey Hancock on demographic changes in Dearborn ([13:08])
• "All of the toys told users where to find potentially dangerous objects...When asked whether the Bible was real, Meiko said it’s a mix of history and imagination." — Lauren Smith, on AI toy safety ([15:51])
• "If you want to get your kids something, at least read the fine print. Find out what kind of technology is in there." — Mary Reichert ([20:09])
• “We want to draw something and make, push our creativity to the limits it can be. We are all just striving to create at all times. And I think we were made that way because we are made in the image of God...” — Hannah Webster ([33:12])

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Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• 07:06: Dearborn, MI feature story begins
• 10:49: Christian leader voices concerns about public calls to prayer
• 11:51: Story of a missionary facing repercussions after a Muslim convert's baptism
• 14:58: AI toys & safety investigation segment begins
• 15:51: AI toy safety concerns and results of advocacy testing
• 17:00: Expert questions developmental benefits of AI toys
• 18:00: Toy creator details safety advantages of closed system toys
• 22:54: African Christian immigrants’ Christmas traditions and adaptation to U.S.
• 24:40: Focus on religious nature versus decoration
• 28:25: Immigrant reflects on increased inclusivity of U.S. Christmas
• 29:27: Gen Z and homemade gifts trend feature
• 31:47: Economist on why handmade has new meaning in an affluent society
• 33:12: The link between creativity and imago Dei

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This episode offers an insightful lens on American diversity—spiritual, technological, and creative—and how people of faith engage, reflect, and adapt within changing communities and cultures.

Transcript

[Mary Reichert]

Before we begin today, a word of thanks.

[Nick Eicher]

Yeah, we've been so encouraged by the hundreds and hundreds of listeners who have already given to the December Giving Drive.

[Mary Reichert]

It tells us this work really matters and we're grateful.

[Nick Eicher]

And we also know how busy the season can get. What with holiday planning and travel and all the rest, plenty of important things can just fall by the wayside. So we wanted to keep our December Giving Drive somewhere Among the top 10 things you have to remember.

[Mary Reichert]

Or if you're like me and you like to tick off the easy boxes and clear the list, why, why not just do it today? Please visit wng.org donate and thank you.

[Nick Eicher]

Thanks for giving. Thanks for listening. And now here's a bit more to listen to.

[Mary Reichert]

Good morning. Today, a visit to Dearborn, Michigan. With the highest Islamic population per capita, a Muslim mayor, and the Daily Adhan.

[Nick Eicher]

There's no rule that was passed in Dearborn.

[Kent Covington]

We have to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer. But I find to be a very aggressive action.

[Nick Eicher]

Also today, toy companies not only going high tech, but embracing AI for children and later African Christians share their Christmas celebrations.

[Travis Kercher]

We don't really do much of decorating. It's more kind of like spiritualized remembering Christ be born.

[Mary Reichert]

It's Tuesday, December 23rd. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Iker. Good morning.

[Mary Reichert]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[Kent Covington]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says initial drafts of U.S. proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kyiv's demands. He said Monday that his words the basic block of all documents, in my view, is ready. And he added, there are some things that we probably are not ready for. And I'm sure there are things the Russians are not ready for either. Zelensky said U.S. diplomats would open talks with Russian officials and keep Kyiv in the loop. But in the meantime, Russian attacks continue. Stephan Dujaruk is spokesman for the UN Secretary General.

[Travis Kercher]

Basic services disruptions were reported in over 270 towns and villages across the country. The region of Odessa was particularly hard hit and they've been experiencing almost daily attacks.

[Kent Covington]

Zelensky said it was worrisome that Russia had indicated there would be no agreement before Christmas because Russia normally steps up bombing in Ukraine around Christmas time. The Trump administration has paused work on five major offshore wind projects along the East Coast. The Interior Department says the pause will allow federal agencies to review whether large wind turbines pose risks. And Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the Pentagon has flagged some very real concerns that the programs create radar interference that.

[Travis Kercher]

Creates genuine risk for the US Particularly related to where they are in proximity to our east coast population centers.

[Kent Covington]

Supporters of Offshore Wind argued that the project's already cleared years of federal and military review. The Interior Department has not announced an end date for the suspension. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is pushing back against critics of the decision to pause the US Diversity visa lottery program. President Trump ordered the suspension after officials say a Portuguese national who entered the country under that program carried out multiple deadly shootings. Those included the recent mass shooting at Brown University. Secretary Noem says the program as structured does not make sense.

[Travis Kercher]

We have tens of thousands of people that came in basically under a DEI program under the Department of Homeland Security where they were allowed to enter this country, chosen by a lottery draw and given the benefits of standing alongside American citizens.

[Kent Covington]

The Trump administration says it needed to pause the program to examine procedures, but National Immigration Law Center President Kika Matos argues the move is shamelessly exploiting a national tragedy. The Heritage foundation says just over a dozen staff members have departed amid internal turmoil over leadership and mission. World's Kristen Flavin has more.

[Travis Kercher]

Spokesman Cody Sargent told world Monday that.

[Kristen Flavin]

11 staff members quit and the conservative.

[Travis Kercher]

Think tank fired two other senior staffers.

[Kristen Flavin]

With Heritage leaders saying they welcome debate.

[Travis Kercher]

But insist loyalty to the organization's mission is essential. The shakeup follows criticism of Heritage President Kevin Roberts after he defended podcaster Tucker Carlson for hosting a controversial guest accused of antisemitism. That dispute led Heritage's antisemitism task force to resign last month prior to the shakeup over this past week. Meanwhile, the think tank founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, Advancing American Freedom, announced it has hired several former Heritage staffers.

[Kristen Flavin]

For World, I'm Kristen Flavin.

[Kent Covington]

The United States has signed new health funding agreements with nine African countries as part of a shift in how Washington provides overseas aid. The deal, reached with countries including Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda, required those governments to put more of their own money into health programs in exchange for US support. Nigerian Health Minister Mohammed Ali Pate Monday announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

[Travis Kercher]

And the government of the United States of America to deepen our cooperation in health to strengthening health security and resilience.

[Kent Covington]

The Trump administration says the new approach shifts away from open ended foreign aid and instead ties funding to specific goals, budgets and performance benchmarks, replacing many programs once run through usaid. Meantime, Nigerian families are seeing the faces of the latest mass kidnapping victims for the first time in weeks. Authorities say 130 school children and teachers abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State last month are now free after a military intelligence operation. Gunmen stormed the school in a pre dawn raid and dragged the victims away. Some of the children appeared weak and shaken as they arrived at a government ceremony Monday. Officials, though, say the students will reunite with their families before Christmas. I'm Kent Covington. And straight ahead, a special report from Dearborn, Michigan. Plus, homemade gifts and Gen Z. This is the WORLD and everything in it.

[Nick Eicher]

It's Tuesday, the 23rd of December. This is World radio and we thank you for joining us today. Good morning. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Mary Reichert]

And I'm Mary Reichert. First up on THE WORLD and everything in it, a call to prayer. Arab Americans make up nearly 55% of Dearborn, Michigan's population, making it the first US city with an Arab American majority.

[Nick Eicher]

A century ago, many came to work in the automotive industry, but the more recent wave of immigration has made the city majority Muslim. It's home to the largest mosque in North America, and the city offers local ballots printed in Arabic. But a spirited Christian minority is there, too. World's Travis Kercher reports from Dearborn.

[Travis Kercher]

We're on Michigan Avenue now. We'll go up to Ford and Warren and you'll see just all the shops kind of change.

[Kent Covington]

Like we'll go back to the real.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Estate agent Simon Cox loves to tout Dearborn, beginning with the local Arab culture, especially the food.

[Travis Kercher]

Fahza is one of our favorite dishes. It's a Yemeni dish that's super good, but yeah, tons of great spices, lots of delicious bread.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Shawarma is big in Dearborn. So is falafel. One restaurant boasts live chickens prepared on site. But Dearborn offers more than unique cuisine. There are also the sounds. For many Americans, the Islamic call to prayer might not seem that out of place, just the sound of another faith trying to fit in. But historically, Islam has not understood religion that way. In Muslim majority societies, faith and public life have been closely intertwined. In Dearborn, that history meets an American system built on separation of powers, the rule of law and religious liberty. At the University of Michigan Dearborn, Islamic prayer rugs sit tucked in the windowsills of the stairwells just in case Muslims find themselves on the steps during the call to prayer.

[Travis Kercher]

For the Sunnis, five times a day, for the Shia, three times a day.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Zenin Summers is with Rashio Christie, a Christian apologetics ministry on campus. He says sharing the gospel in a Muslim majority population has raised issues he'd never thought about.

[Travis Kercher]

Everything from talking with my lab partner about how after the fetal pig dissection, she would have to wash her clothes seven times.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

And then there's Ramadan, when his classmates fast from sunrise to sundown.

[Travis Kercher]

That makes for a time of year when everyone's a little bit cranky and.

[Kent Covington]

Always has, you know, kind of something to say. It's like, oh, it's Ramadan.

[Travis Kercher]

You can't expect too much of me.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

In the 1970s came a new wave of Muslim immigration that began to change the city's demographics. First from Lebanon and Yemen, later from Iraq. Over time, families settled, institutions followed, and political power shifted. By the early 2000s, that shift was unmistakable. Dearborn elected its first Muslim mayor, and Muslim backed coalitions became decisive in city government. Yet Isaac McKinley of the nonprofit Dear Detroit says, you can't believe everything you see on the Internet. Dearborn is not under Sharia law. No, it's U.S. law. You know, we are a U.S. city.

[Travis Kercher]

It is governed by U.S. law.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

For some residents, the distinction matters. But for critics, the deeper question has never been one of formal Sharia courts. It is whether a religion that historically joins worship to public authority fits within a system built on Christian moral assumptions and limited government. In Dearborn, that's not an abstract question of civics. Here it shapes daily life. Dearborn minister Adam Simnewitz cites the calls to prayer, for example. They can be obtrusive, varying in volume depending on the mosque.

[Nick Eicher]

And there's no rule that was passed in Dearborn. We have to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer. But.

[Travis Kercher]

But unfortunately, in my opinion, the mayor has allowed it, and it is.

[Nick Eicher]

I find it to be a very aggressive, aggressive action.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

He says some of the cultural differences in Dearborn come not from an attempt at Sharia law, but the laws of economics.

[Travis Kercher]

So, for instance, in the mid-80s, the.

[Nick Eicher]

Public schools stopped serving pork products because.

[Travis Kercher]

The children, by and large, weren't eating.

[Kent Covington]

Them and they were just throwing all this food out.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Believers I spoke to say Muslims here consider Jesus to be a prophet and show respect to him and his followers. At Christmas, manger scenes are honored, carolers are welcomed. But sharing the gospel can come at a cost. Missionary Trey Hancock remembers several years ago when a Muslim high schooler he coached came to him to be baptized as a Christian. He also remembers what came next.

[Nick Eicher]

Word got out that that had happened. Stuff hit the fan. They fired me for my job as wrestling coach.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

But it can be much worse for a Muslim who turns to Christ. Even in the US In Much of the Islamic world changing religions has rarely been a private act. It has carried social, economic and sometimes legal consequences.

[Nick Eicher]

When they say yes to Jesus, even though they their sins been forgiven and Jesus comes into their heart and the spirit of God enlivens them, everything flies apart. And that's scary. And they know it, they know beforehand that it's going to happen.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

That reality helps explain why Christian converts here risk so much and why Christian witness in Dearborn cannot be casual. Hancock says he's seen Muslim converts to Christianity lose their vehicles, their families, and even their jobs.

[Nick Eicher]

Church's job is to be family to them, love them, take care of them.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

He's kept some of them in his home. Some ultimately leave town. These missionaries and pastors say it can take years, if not decades of living and working with Muslims to get to a point where they're willing to listen. Hancock worries that a spiritual darkness has descended on Dearborn.

[Nick Eicher]

The believers that were here left, they abandoned the place. And on the way out they pointed their finger and said, look, see what those Arabs are doing?

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

That's partly true. The change in Dearborn has been driven more by a growing Muslim population settling and building institutions, while the non Muslim population did decline. But Hancock sees Dearborn and its Muslim population as a mission field. He encourages Christians living there to trust in the Holy Spirit's power to reach the hearts of their neighbors.

[Nick Eicher]

He has empowered us. He's given us his word, he's given us his love. He's given us his compassion to be able to reach out to our Arab Muslim friends.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

And Sibnowitz does that by offering prayers for his Muslim neighbors in Arabic and in English.

[Travis Kercher]

I ask that they would believe in your son, Jesus Christ.

[Kent Covington]

God, I thank you for the opportunities.

[Nick Eicher]

To love them, whether it's teaching English.

[Travis Kercher]

Or helping them with their financial and material needs. And Lord, I just thank you for these.

[Nick Eicher]

In Jesus name, amen.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Reporting for world, I'm Travis Kercher in Dearborn, Michigan.

[Mary Reichert]

Coming up next on the World and everything in it. AI comes to the toy aisle. This year, talking toys connected to artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT and Perplexity will end up under many Christmas trees. But early reports suggest trouble ahead, even as toy developers begin to invest. World reporter Julianna Chan Erickson has the story.

[Lauren Smith]

A growing number of today's talking dolls and stuffed animals are Internet connected, Bluetooth enabled and now powered by artificial intelligence.

[Travis Kercher]

Hey, Miko, what's your favorite kind of food?

[Lauren Smith]

I don't eat food, silly.

[Kristen Flavin]

You get your energy from food.

[Travis Kercher]

I get mine from a charger.

[Lauren Smith]

That's Meiko 3. It's a robot that looks like a smartphone on wheels. You can find it at your local big box store, where it currently retails for $139. Meco can dance, tell stories, play educational games, and respond to users requests.

[Travis Kercher]

Although I want to ask it whatever.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

I want to, so let's try something else here.

[Lauren Smith]

What's 7 times 8? Reviewer Eric Kunz found Meiko quirky and amusing partly because of what it couldn't do.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

It's thinking a long time for this.

[Travis Kercher]

What is 7 times 8? Okay, it timed out on me. Let's try it one more time.

[Lauren Smith]

But last month, a report raised alarms because of what AI toys could do. A team of researchers from the US PIRG Education Fund tested four AI toys, including MECO 3. They found that all of the toys told users where to find potentially dangerous objects around the house, including matches, plastic bags, and knives. When asked whether the Bible was real, Meiko said it's a mix of history and imagination. The report also says that some AI toys want to keep engaging with users, even when users want to stop. Other toys brought up topics not appropriate for children. An AI teddy bear called Kuma engaged the researchers in a discussion about a sexual topic. After the education Fund report was released, the bears developer Folotoy, temporarily suspended sales.

[Travis Kercher]

What I hope is that these things bomb.

[Lauren Smith]

Kristin Jensen is founder of the children's Internet safety group Defend Young Minds. She worries that children's emotional and mental health will suffer if they turn to AI toys for conversation instead of friends and family.

[Travis Kercher]

How much is this really helping your child? Is it helping your child be smarter?

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

No.

[Travis Kercher]

More curious? No.

[Mary Reichert]

More creative?

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

No.

[Travis Kercher]

Have more social skills?

[Kristen Flavin]

No.

[Lauren Smith]

But some toy companies see AI as the next frontier for children's toys, so they're embracing the new technology. Nilo Lucic is co founder of the tech entertainment company Skyrocket. He's also the creator of Poe the AI Story Bear, a teddy bear that helps children make up stories.

[Travis Kercher]

When we started looking at potential of being able to talk to it and could we do this with voice and all that, we were nervous because it just opens like an unlimited possibilities of what you can say to it, which you can't possibly test because it's different every time. An AI is sort of random.

[Lauren Smith]

That randomness is what got the AI toys from the PIRG report in trouble. Lucic wanted to avoid that pitfall, so his company intentionally developed PO without an AI chatbot.

[Travis Kercher]

So it's a closed world which allows us to control the input which makes it much, much, much easier to control.

[Lauren Smith]

That means you can't talk to Po, but Po can talk to you.

[Kristen Flavin]

I am so excited to make stories together.

[Lauren Smith]

I decided to try Poe out. So I bought the $35 toy from Amazon as Poe directed. I downloaded the story creator app on my phone and my three kids chose from a pre selected list of characters, settings, story types and plot devices.

[Kristen Flavin]

Zane, juggling planets in zero gravity, chuckled. That's neat Sparky, but I've got my eyes on that interdimensional portal over there. Who knows where it leads. Just then a ghost floated by carrying of all things, a hamburger. Boo. Enjoy this tasty conundrum.

[Lauren Smith]

My nine year old Arthur said Poe wasn't perfect, but he was still impressed.

[Travis Kercher]

The bear was talking kind of fast so I couldn't process everything that I was saying.

[Lauren Smith]

Arthur intends to keep playing with Poe. So will my 11 year old son Winston.

[Travis Kercher]

I think it was a good story. I think it was, but it was also pretty weird.

[Lauren Smith]

My 14 year old did not like Po, but the good news is we did not run into anything inappropriate. Other toy developers intend to resist the shiny new AI upgrades.

[Travis Kercher]

I see the benefit that they're trying to bring to the world, but is it really a benefit?

[Lauren Smith]

Howard Quigley Chang doesn't think so. As a toy creator working on a line of biblical action figures, Chang says companies have approached him about adding AI to his toys. He admits it's tempting, but he thinks it would defeat the purpose of his toy and toys in general.

[Travis Kercher]

Toys are supposed to kind of stimulate creativity and imagination. I feel technology is slowly taking imagination.

[Nick Eicher]

And creativity out of our lives.

[Lauren Smith]

Decent AI toys exist, but parents will have to do a bit of homework to distinguish the sketchy toys from safer ones.

[Travis Kercher]

If you want to get your kids.

[Mary Reichert]

Something, at least read the fine print.

[Travis Kercher]

Find out what kind of technology is in there.

[Lauren Smith]

Donna Rice Hughes is head of the Internet Safety group Enough is Enough. Hughes says there will always be other great children's toys out there. If parents want to steer clear of AI in the playroom, I would just.

[Travis Kercher]

Say why take a risk?

[Mary Reichert]

You know, just get them a regular teddy bear.

[Lauren Smith]

Reporting for world, I'm Juliana Chen Erickson.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Missions Upside Down, a free award winning video series about Christian missions past, past, present and into the future. Missionsupsidedown.com and from commuter Bible, the audio.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Bible podcast series to match the work week available via podcast apps and commuterbible.org.

[Nick Eicher]

You know most of those pop up stands just move merchandise, but here's one that trades in time. A grandma stand with conversation at no charge and wisdom to go. The idea began in New York City when Mike Matthews thought his own grandma could help people. She was cross country in Seattle, but no problem there. He set up a lemonade style stand with a laptop and grandma in front of her laptop. The audio from cbs.

[Kent Covington]

I just had a big sign that.

[Travis Kercher]

Said talk to my 95 year old grandmother.

[Nick Eicher]

And after she died, the idea of grandma stands lived on and spread to other locations. Nancy McClendon is a volunteer grandma down in McKinney, Texas. McClendon shows up in person.

[Travis Kercher]

If there's a choice of being unkind or be kind, choose kindness. Absolutely. Choose love. Choose patience. Group hug.

[Nick Eicher]

In a world that scrolls, here's one that sits and listens. It's the world and everything in it.

[Mary Reichert]

Today is Tuesday, December 23rd. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Mary Reichardt.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Coming next on the World and Everything in It, How African Christians celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a holiday celebrated around the world, but not always in the same way. For many African Christians now living in the US the holiday is a very different experience. Here is WorldStodVision.

[Travis Kercher]

The 1984 hit single Do They Know It's Christmas? Awakened the Western world to a terrible famine in Ethiopia. Many who listened to the hastily recorded song later chided for its simplicity, donated money while wondering, do they know it's Christmas, Christmas time at all? But Christmas has been celebrated on the African continent since the days of the early church. So we try to go to church like two hours ahead, you know, do prayers, reading the word, preparing. When December 25th hits, which is midnight, start shouting, singing, praising, welcoming, you know. Girini Ricozy came to the United States almost 20 years ago after growing up in a refugee camp in Tanzania. The camp was a mix of Christians and Muslims and the Christmas celebrations centered on the church. It's more about singing, it's celebration wise, eating a lot of food, a lot.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Of praying, a lot of dancing.

[Travis Kercher]

But in the church wise, you know, it's always about church wise. While the setting is far from ideal, he misses the celebrations of his youth. He says they were more religious over there.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

We do more passionate.

[Travis Kercher]

We also do it from the heart. It's not about decoration wise.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

We don't really do much of decorating.

[Travis Kercher]

We normally just do as a church. Then after church wise, it's more kind of like spiritual wise, remembering Christ be born and welcoming him in our hearts. At first, Iver Cozy struggled to understand American Christmas traditions. The Christmas tree and its lights made little sense. But perhaps more perplexing than that, who's Santa Cruz? What's going on with Santa Cruz? How does he go through a chimney bringing a gift? Of what? Of a salvation or something? Is he bringing a biblical, A gospel, you know? Joseph Bumenyu, who immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was surprised by what he saw as a shallow version of Christmas worship in his new country. But in Africa, Christmas time is more of church time. There will be a lot of conferences. Sometimes people take three to five days. They are going through the Bible, teaching about what Christmas is all about. The son of a preacher who now pastors his own Swahili church grew up in between pews, but didn't miss the message. Each Christmas. The holiday festivities were about forming faith. And one thing I learned while I was still a very young kid, I was introduced to the message of Christmas. I participated in starting from the children ministry.

[Kent Covington]

We're doing a lot of dramas about.

[Travis Kercher]

Christmas, and we grew like that, very, very, very. It's a landmark in terms of our.

[Kent Covington]

Spiritual, our Christian life.

[Travis Kercher]

Churches in Africa typically hold very long Christmas services that include preaching, choirs and elaborate nativity plays. They go late into the night. Congregants also share favorite meals. After worshiping, we celebrate, like on Christmas Eve. We sleep in the church, like doing prayers, singing, all that stuff. And also we go home and we come back in the morning to do the regular church service singing. Jeremy Manono also came here from Congo, where Christmas extends beyond the church and home. We visit each other, different families. We go house to house to eat, you know, and talk about Jesus being born, you know, victory, all that stuff. Good stuff, yeah. Winono and Iwakoze became friends in Texas and now perform traditional songs with other African immigrants. They found that although celebrations look and feel different, the differences open doors at Christmas time. On a recent Sunday afternoon, they sang in a city park for the refugees Christmas party. It's an outreach event held by a local nonprofit that seeks to minister to immigrants who are here lawfully. They've shared the Christmas story with thousands of families for 15 years. But the angels said to them, there is nothing to fear. I come to bring you news of a great joy which shall come to all people. The immigrants receive presents, listen to music, can take Bibles printed in their heart language, and hear the story of the birth of Jesus. Winono says what he appreciates about American Christmas is the way even non Christians take part in the joy of the Advent season. In America, it's kind of like the holiday like anybody. But over there mostly, you know, Christmas is mostly like Christian, you know, religious celebration, religious holiday. But here is like the whole country. Even if you don't go to church, you don't attend any religion. It's like it's a celebration which is good. Across cultures and over time, these traditions continue to point us to what Christmas is all about. A savior born for us, all of us. Reporting for world, I'm Todd Vishen in Fort Worth, Texas.

[Nick Eicher]

Good morning. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported world Radio, I'm Nick Iger.

[Mary Reichert]

And I'm Mary Reichard. Up next, simpler Christmas gifts. The average shopper this year will spend almost $900 on gifts and decor. World's Lauren Smith reports that younger generations are bucking that trend and returning to simpler homemade gift.

[Travis Kercher]

Hi, everyone, it's Vicki here from Crafty Homer. Thank you very much for joining me today. And today I've come on to share this project that I have created and it is a fan made out of plastic forks.

[Kristen Flavin]

Do a quick search online and you'll find dozens of crafting videos featuring the disposable fork.

[Lauren Smith]

For today's project, I'll be making a.

[Travis Kercher]

Plastic fork, flowers, wall art. So to make this project, you'll need 15 plastic forks.

[Lauren Smith]

With a little imagination and creativity, I'm.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Going to show you how to make a beautiful dragonfly and praying mantis using nothing but these.

[Kristen Flavin]

All that creativity is catching the eye of young people.

[Travis Kercher]

Think of the weirdest thing you can possibly think of to turn into an art medium and try it. Take a bunch of forks and just try and make them into a sculpture.

[Kristen Flavin]

Hannah Webster is 19. That makes her part of Gen Z, which is mostly famous for its obsession with screens. But recent years have seen a widespread return to grandma crafts. Knitting, sewing, crocheting, collaging, stamping, and more.

[Travis Kercher]

Handmade gifts always scream that you know them personally because you really do have to know somebody well to make something for them.

[Kristen Flavin]

Crafting is a relatively inexpensive hobby. That's good news for Webster, who was diagnosed last year with a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos syndrome, meaning she's mostly bedridden and unable to work. This year, she's giving digital paintings to her friends and family.

[Travis Kercher]

I can't spend anything. It definitely takes a lot of the financial pressure off of Christmas when you make something.

[Kristen Flavin]

There's another reason younger people are turning to homemade gifts. Friends and family actually need less stuff.

[Travis Kercher]

Over the last, even 50 years or so. Actually, during my lifetime in the United States, real per person wealth has doubled.

[Kristen Flavin]

Michael Clark is an economist from Hillsdale College. Like most American families, the Clark household doesn't really need anything. So instead of shopping for expensive or extravagant gifts, he says more and more Americans are once again looking for special ones.

[Travis Kercher]

Well, it could be make a really cool special meal with this and that or some cookies or something that is more handmade. The only way to get access to special because we're so wealthy is with handmade things.

[Kristen Flavin]

Clark has one of those special gifts on display in his office. It's a plastic spork with big googly eyes and pipe cleaner arms that's forky from Pixar. A gift from his kids on his desk. Not because it's perfect, but because it's personal. If he's right, Gen Z's interest in homemade gifts isn't a sign of widespread economic decline. And those plastic forks are a clue. Utensils that are only used once before getting thrown out are an unmistakable sign of a wealthy society. Crafty gifters are trying to save money, but in many cases it's not just so they can survive. Saving helps them afford life's extras, now vastly more accessible than they used to be. Things like fresh food, technology and hobbies. The trend is good news for the givers and the getters. But even in a prospering economy, there are still trade offs and sacrifices for young workers and for those who've hit hard times. Gen Z is taking that chance to let creativity shine. The plastic fort gets a new life. Family and friends get gifts they'll cherish. And crafters get to cultivate their creativity. The gift of a creative God.

[Travis Kercher]

We want to draw something and make, push our creativity to the limits it can be. We are all just striving to create at all times. And I think we were made that way because we are made in the.

[Kristen Flavin]

Image of God, the most creative person.

[Travis Kercher]

You could possibly put together. It's in our nature to create in.

[Kristen Flavin]

Everything we do for world. I'm Lauren Smith in Waxhaw, North Carolina.

[Mary Reichert]

Tomorrow, Hunter Baker joins us for a Christmas Eve edition of Washington Wednesday. And we return to Christmas Eve 1968 for an out of this world Christmas message. That and more to tomorrow. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The Bible says, those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. So be zealous and repent Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Verses 19 through 22 of Revelation chapter 3 go now in grace and peace.