Dripping Springs First Methodist Church Pastor Adam Thorton looks to the few people helping him with Sunday service, then looks at empty aisles and the tiny open camera lens staring back at him. He has never been
nervous before a Sunday service, but something is eerie about talking to an empty room.

The room only felt empty, however. On the other side of that camera lens are hundreds of people sitting with their phone at home, or a family watching on their smart TV, or someone who hasn’t had...