Do you feel overwhelmed by new technology? Artificial intelligence (AI), in particular, can feel that way. It raises fears and misconceptions that prevent our ministries from working more efficiently. AI is a powerful tool to apply to ministry work. This week, we’re addressing some of the most common AI myths for ministry leaders. Our goal is to build a foundation of trust and understanding, not to sell you anything.
AI will replace staff and volunteers
The Reality: AI is a tool, not a replacement for human connection and ministry. Rather than taking over roles, AI can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up your team to focus on what matters most: personal relationships and pastoral care. Imagine an AI assistant that can schedule social posts, manage a church calendar, or even draft the weekly newsletter. Don’t have a newsletter? Let’s talk. I can imagine calendars, social media posts, and newsletters, too. I’m just not knowledgeable enough with AI to understand it all – yet.
That’s why I’m committing to walking this journey with you instead of just pumping information out there. In last week’s post, I spoke about Prompt Engineering. That’s a basic first step to using AI. Understanding prompt engineering can help take away months of animosity and fear about AI tools.
Newsletters, emails, and scheduling are all tasks that can consume valuable time. Using AI for them allows your staff and volunteers to invest more time in direct ministry. And if they’re not focusing on direct ministry, maybe they can focus on new initiatives to bring more people to Christ.
AI is too expensive for our church budget
The Reality: While advanced, custom AI solutions can be costly, many free or low-cost AI tools are already available and easy to use. From AI-powered grammar checkers (Grammarly) to social media content generators (Blaze, Buffer, Canva), many of the tools you might need are accessible and require minimal investment. The key is to start small, experiment, and find the tools that deliver the most value for your specific needs.
Each week (That’s my goal), I’ll share what I’ve learned from using a different AI Tool. As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m planning on spending one hour per week (if not more), learning a new AI tool. As I learn one, I’ll share my experience. The first one, Prompt Engineering, took about a week for me to go through, which included about 5 hours of learning time. Not bad to learn a new tool. Read about what I learned in the Prompt Engineering blog post.
AI is a threat to the authenticity of our message
The Reality: I will confess that I thought so too. You can read that post titled: Has AI Ruined Ministry?
AI doesn’t create the message; it helps you deliver it more effectively. Your church’s core message and mission are rooted in your faith and community—something that AI cannot replicate. Instead, AI can help you reach a wider audience by analyzing engagement data to determine the best time to post, or by suggesting accessible language for different demographics. AI enhances your ability to communicate your message; it does not dilute it.
Saying that, a pastor can still use it to write their entire sermon, verbatim. I discourage that. That’s not the Holy Spirit working.
Tools to Explore
Not this week. This week is just addresses myths. Some that I also believed. It’s about building a foundation of trust and understanding. We’ll talk about tools next week.
When used intentionally and with a ministry heart, AI can be a powerful force for spreading the Gospel. Debunking these common myths sets us up to explore how AI can serve ministries and their unique needs. If we can help with training, strategic planning, and support.
If you are ready to explore how to enhance your church’s communications, we invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.