Will AI change how we do ministry? In this episode, Luke and Adam argue that it already is, and that the more important question is where to draw the line. Featuring insights from Pastor Puia Fanai, Craige Young, Pastor Jëan Ross and Pastor Russ Willcocks, they look at AI triaging thousands of messages at Hope Channel, a Bible study chatbot on WhatsApp that hands people to a real mentor, church website chatbots that answer within 24 hours instead of next Sabbath, and what responsible sermon prep looks like when AI is in the room. The thread running through it all: AI can change the how of ministry, but not the why. It can filter, curate, research and follow up. It cannot love, pray, discern or carry someone's suffering. Moses still needed Jethro, and the church still needs Moses.

This is Part Three of AI in the Age of Christianity, a series where Luke and Adam bring in guests, explore the hard questions, and work toward a framework the church can actually use.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 Could AI pray for me?

00:00:45 Welcome, and this episode's question

00:01:15 Luke's hypothesis: AI changes the how, not the why

00:02:15 Adam's light bulb analogy

00:03:40 Clip 1: Pastor Puia Fanai on triaging engagement and Bible study chatbots at Hope Channel

00:07:40 Compression and curation: AI's core strength at scale

00:10:00 Clip 2: Craige Young on 24-hour follow-up and church chatbots

00:12:15 Getting the chatbot experience right

00:17:00 Agentic tools and the pastor's personal assistant

00:18:40 Can AI help pastors preach?

00:20:00 Clip 3: Pastor Jëan Ross on sermon prep, slides and research

00:23:20 A great study partner, a poor architect

00:27:10 Clip 4: Pastor Russ Willcocks on Moses, Jethro and what technology can't do

00:29:30 Pulling the threads together

00:32:30 Next episode: would you push the button?

FEATURED VOICES

🔗 Pastor Puia Fanai, Hope Channel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/puia-fanai-21945b196/ | https://www.facebook.com/rspuiafanai/

🔗 Craige Young: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ucyinc

🔗 Pastor Jëan Ross, Amazing Facts https://www.amazingfacts.org/

🔗 Pastor Russ Willcocks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-willcocks-13126640

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