The Church Tech Today Podcast with Kenny Jahng | AI for Church Leaders | Church Online

Episode Summary
Your sermon archive answers the exact questions people in your zip code type into Google every day. In this episode, Kenny Jahng explains why sermons posted only as audio or video are mostly invisible to search engines and AI chatbots.

He walks through a simple 3-step process to turn sermon transcripts into blog articles that pull search traffic to your church all week.

He also shares the plain-language prompt he uses and explains how volunteers can run the whole workflow on their own schedule.

Key Topics Discussed

AI and Sermons: The Order Matters
Many pastors object to AI writing their sermons. Kenny's approach puts AI after the sermon: build it, preach it, record it, and then use AI to extend its reach.

Why Sermons Are SEO Gold
You already preach on grief, marriage, doubt, money, and forgiveness. People search those same topics every day. Search engines struggle to read video, so a transcript-based article gives Google and AI chatbots real text to index and cite.

Step 1: Transcribe Your Sermon

Step 2: Shape the Transcript Into a Blog Post Built Around One Question

Step 3: Use Real Search Words in Titles and Headings

Mid-Form Content in Your Online Outreach
Most website visitors aren't ready to watch a 40-minute sermon. A 30-second clip is too short to carry the depth of the gospel. A blog post fills the middle. The goal is to move people off the internet and into a conversation.

A Job for Volunteers
This work isn't time-sensitive, so volunteers can do it remotely whenever they have time, and your back catalog gives them plenty to work on. Always have someone review and edit the AI draft before publishing.

The Math of 1 Article a Week
One post won't make much difference. 50 felt-need articles in a year gives your church 50 new doors from search.

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Notable Quotes
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"Your sermons are full of the exact questions people type into Google."
"It's not build it and they will come."
"The objective typically is get people off of the Internet that have felt needs... and get them to a conversation."
"You already preached on it."
"Within the next week, you could have four new front doors to your church that continue to work while you sleep."

The Prompt Kenny Shared:
Paste your transcript into ChatGPT or Claude with instructions like these:

Here is my sermon transcript and title. Rephrase the title as a question a real person would search. Turn this into a blog post a first-time visitor could find on Google. Open with a 2 to 3 sentence direct answer to the question. Use clear subheadings, short paragraphs, and plain language at a 6th grade reading level. Keep the pastor's key points and scripture intact. Cut filler and room-specific asides. End with one clear next step for the reader. Aim for 800 to 1,000 words, and make the language sound like something I'd say to someone in person.

Resources & Recommendations

MacWhisperA Mac app with a free version. Drag in your audio or video file and it transcribes it automatically.

Riverside Free Transcription (riverside.com/transcription)A free online tool that transcribes audio and video into text, captions, and subtitles in more than 100 languages.

RepurposeYourSermon.com
Short master class that covers this whole workflow in depth.

AI for Church Leaders and Pastors Facebook Group
A free community of more than 8,000 pastors, church staff, and leaders. Share what you tried and how it went.

Share Your Results
Email [email protected] or post in the Facebook group.

For more episodes and resources, visit ChurchTechToday.com.

Episode Summary
Your church needs an AI policy, and it can fit on one or two pages.

In this episode, Kenny Jahng walks through the 10 sections every workable church AI policy should include. He covers approved and prohibited uses, how to protect data from minors and counseling notes, when to disclose AI use, and how to keep the policy current as the tools change. The goal is plain-language guidance your staff, volunteers, and leadership can read and use this week.

Key Topics Discussed

Section 1: Purpose
Explain in two or three sentences why your church has a policy at all. Cover your theological approach and the practical reasons, including data protection and privacy.

Section 2: Scope
Name who the policy covers: pastors, staff, volunteers. List the tools, tasks, and roles it applies to, plus any departments or activities that are off-limits.

Section 3: Approved Uses
This is your green light list. Tell your team where they're free to experiment. Kenny's example is taking a sermon transcript after the message has been preached and repurposing it into summaries, new formats, and different lengths.

Section 4: Prohibited Uses
This is your red light list. Draw a hard line on where AI never goes. Examples include final theological statements, personally identifiable information, and any financial data tied to a name or record.

Section 5: Data Privacy
Spell out what information stays out of public AI tools and why. Kids ministry data and private counseling notes top the list. Clear guardrails give your team more freedom to work.

Section 6: Transparency
Decide when and how you disclose that AI helped. Kenny compares routine AI help to using a concordance or commentary in sermon prep. The standard is simple: no one should feel misled when they find out AI was involved.

Section 7: Accountability
Name who owns the policy, who approves tools, how approval works, and who answers questions when something comes up.

Section 8: Training
Define how staff and volunteers learn to use AI well and safely, whether through conferences, courses, lunch and learns, or communities. This usually connects to a budget line for AI training and leadership development.

Section 9: Review Cadence
AI tools change monthly, sometimes weekly. Set how often you'll revisit the policy so it gets updated and doesn't sit on a shelf for years.

Section 10: Adoption
Plan how the policy reaches each group: elders, executive team, pastors, staff, and volunteers. Wide access helps everyone feel included in this workplace shift.

Notable Quotes
"A policy that nobody reads protects nobody."
"Trust is the currency that we all ride on in the church and ministry space, and once you violate trust, you lose everything."
"You cannot assume that you're going to write your AI Policy once and put it on the bookshelf for years ahead."
"You are the one that's supposed to bring clarity to everything."
"Version one is better than version none."

Resources & Recommendations

AI Policies Made Simple (aipoliciesmadesimple.com)

AI for Church Leaders Facebook Group
More than 8,000 church leaders trading notes on how AI fits their own context.

Staff Training Courses
ChatGPTforChurches.com, RepurposeYourSermon.com, and the All-Access Membership at AIforChurchLeaders.com.

The AI Collective
A private community of leaders who meet online live every month, with a private discussion forum.

Share Your Policy
If your team writes a policy, Kenny wants to see it. Email [email protected] or post it in the AI for Church Leaders & Pastors Facebook group.

For more episodes and resources, visit ChurchTechToday.com.

Episode Summary

In this insightful solo episode, Kenny Jahng reflects on his journey using AI tools over the past several years. Drawing from personal experience, Kenny Jahng distills five core lessons for maximizing the benefits of AI—making you faster at tedious work and better at the tasks that truly matter. From the importance of clarity and personal judgment to treating AI as a partner (not just a tool), Kenny Jahng provides practical wisdom for leaders and knowledge workers eager to leverage AI without losing their distinct value.

Key Topics Discussed

• Evolution of AI in Everyday Work

  Kenny Jahng shares how AI shifted from a novelty to an essential part of his daily workflow, now open almost all the time when working 00:00:49.

• Lesson 1: Clarity is Key

  AI can only amplify the clarity you bring. If your thoughts are fuzzy, AI will return fuzzy results 00:02:05. You must be clear about your objectives before prompting AI.

• Lesson 2: The Importance of Human Judgment

  The most valuable skill isn’t prompt crafting, but applying your own expertise to evaluate AI outputs 00:04:04. AI produces confidence, but discernment determines value.

• Lesson 3: AI Excels at the 80%—You Finish the Last Mile

  AI is great for rough drafts and rapid ideation, but the final polish relies on your intervention 00:06:42.

• Lesson 4: Make AI Argue With You Don’t accept output at face value—treat AI as a sparring partner, asking it to poke holes in your logic for deeper insights 00:08:44.

• Lesson 5: Guard Your Discernment

  The biggest risk is outsourcing your thinking to AI and losing the muscle of discernment 00:12:04. Deliberate growth, reflection, and collaboration with humans are essential.

Notable Quotes

“AI is only as clear as you are yourself.” 00:02:05

“Your judgment is the skill that matters the most.” 00:04:04

“AI sprints with you... But that last mile, the last half mile is the crazy hard part that’s on you.” 00:06:42

“You must make AI argue with you. You have to pick a fight.” 00:08:44

“The real risk is outsourcing your discernment at the end of the day.” 00:12:04

“Is it making me wiser or is it making me busier? That’s a question I’m constantly asking.” 00:16:45

Resources & Recommendations

• Google NotebookLM: Mentioned as a tool for building personas, creating a board of advisors, and setting up AI as a more challenging counterpart 00:10:48.

• Personal Growth Practices: Kenny Jahng emphasizes the importance of reading books, listening to podcasts, and learning from real experts, beyond AI-generated responses 00:13:52.

• Encouragement to Connect: Listeners are invited to share their own lessons or questions about AI by emailing [email protected] 00:17:07.

For more episodes and resources, visit ChurchTechToday.com/podcast

Episode Summary: In this solo episode, Kenny Jahng, founder of AIforChurchLeaders.com, confronts the five most common—and often unspoken—questions pastors have about artificial intelligence in ministry. He shares practical first steps for engaging with AI, explains why every church needs an AI policy, and offers biblical framing for approaching technology from the pulpit. Church leaders will walk away with actionable tips, encouragement for honest conversations, and resources to help their teams discern wise use of AI tools.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to begin using AI in ministry by tackling a real, low-stakes problem this week

• Why immediate, simple AI policies matter for churches already using these tools

• What lines leaders should draw when using AI for sermon preparation to maintain integrity

• Ways to biblically address AI from the pulpit and build your congregation’s digital discernment

• Which tasks are appropriate (and which are risky) for church staff to automate with AI

• The importance of regular dialogue and shared frameworks among staff and volunteers

• Where to find structured resources and courses tailored for ministry leaders engaging with AI

Key Quotes:

“Taking the first steps is going to help you figure out what the next steps are going to be.” — Kenny Jahng

“Transparency builds trust every single time in every single direction.” — Kenny Jahng

“You can use AI in the front end, but you yourself have to show up on the back end.” — Kenny Jahng

“AI is a tool built by people who bear the image of a creative God.” — Kenny Jahng

“The mission is about serving others. That is something that you need to keep central.” — Kenny Jahng

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• https://aiforchurchleaders.com
• https://chatgpt4churchs.com
• https://aipolicysimplesimple.com
• https://www.FrontDoor.church
• State of AI in the Church national survey report

About the Church Tech Today Podcast: The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.FrontDoor.church.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, host Kenny Jahng sits down with Dr. Ed Stetzer, Dean of the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, to explore how AI technology is disrupting relationships, fueling loneliness, and reshaping the mission of the Church. They dive deep into how pastors and ministry leaders can thoughtfully respond as more people—especially young adults—turn to chatbots for connection and counsel. Listeners will discover practical wisdom for stewarding AI in ministry, fostering authentic community, and creating space for biblical reflection amidst rapid technological change.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why AI has emerged at a critical time for relational and mental health crises in society

• How large language models and chatbots are changing where people turn for advice and therapy

• What pastors can do to address the epidemic of loneliness exacerbated by technology

• The importance of preserving human-in-the-loop oversight when using AI tools in ministry

• How to encourage countercultural, authentic Christian community in a digital age

• Powerful cautions and boundaries for deploying AI-generated content in church communications

• Why discernment and theological reflection must pace with technology adoption among church staff

Key Quotes:

“AI comes along and it personifies and personalizes your opportunity to have relationships online.” — Ed Stetzer

“The antidote to an AI-driven crisis of loneliness is small community where we provoke one another to love and good deeds.” — Ed Stetzer

“You don’t have to be an expert on AI, but you can call people to community.” — Ed Stetzer

“If I’m in between the output of AI and where I’m placing it, that’s a line I know I’m on the right side of.” — Corey (Sermon Shots)

“The rate of adoption is outpacing the thoughtfulness to it.” — Kenny Jahng

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Sermon Shots: https://sermonshots.com

Talbot School of Theology, Biola University: https://www.biola.edu/talbot

ChurchTechToday.com: https://churchtechtoday.com

Exponential AI Next: https://exponential.org/ai-next/

State of AI in the Church Report

edstetzer.com: http://edstetzer.com

About the Church Tech Today Podcast:

The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.FrontDoor.church.

Most churches have more data than they know what to do with.

The CHMS is generating reports.

The giving platform has a full dashboard.

Planning Center is logging every volunteer shift.

...And usually, most of it is connected to a regular leadership habit.

In this episode, Kenny Jahng, editor-in-chief at ChurchTechToday.com, breaks down a four-domain framework for what executive pastors and lead pastors should actually be tracking:

• Attendance and engagement
• Giving and stewardship
• Volunteer and team health
• Digital and outreach

You'll walk away with specific metrics to start watching, why most churches go blind on second-visit return rates, what a lapsed donor report tells you that a giving total never will, and a simple Monday morning habit that takes 15 minutes and keeps you ahead of every board meeting conversation.

Data is not a scoreboard.

These numbers represent real people.

This episode is about how to read them that way.

ChatGPT can generate a sermon manuscript faster than you can brew your morning coffee. But should it?

In this episode of the Church Tech Today Podcast, host Kenny Jahng breaks down Carey Nieuwhof’s recent message on the ethics of AI in ministry, and the 4 dangers every pastor needs to hear before letting algorithms into the pulpit.

From stunted spiritual formation to a subtle form of plagiarism, Nieuwhof argues that bypassing the hard work of sermon prep doesn’t just shortchange your congregation—it shortchanges you.

In this episode:

• Why the grind of sermon prep is a feature, not a bug

• The “unwritten contract” you might be breaking with your church

• How AI-generated content loses authentic resonance

• The long-term cost to your authority as a teacher

Carey isn’t anti-tech, but he is pro-human.And this conversation is one every pastor using AI needs to have. Watch Nieuwhof’s full video and read more at ChurchTechToday.com: https://churchtechtoday.com/4-warnings-about-ai-carey-nieuwhof-makes-to-preachers/

Episode Summary 

Kenny Jahng, host of the Church Tech Today Podcast, dives into seven critical threads for ministry leaders around the impact of AI on church life. Drawing from his experience consulting and leading workshops nationwide, Kenny unveils how artificial intelligence is influencing identity, spiritual rhythms, relationships, and trust in ways most church leaders haven’t considered. Listeners will walk away with a fresh framework to anticipate the challenges and opportunities AI brings to their churches. If you’re responsible for shaping discipleship, teaching, or community, this episode is both a practical wake-up call and an invitation to join the conversation.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why AI is silently shaping people’s spiritual identity—even more than social media

• How instant AI responses are reshaping prayer, reflection, and expectations in discipleship

• What it means that AI tools are now the “first conversation partner” before pastors

• How algorithms and AI can shift congregational emotional tone—and why churches need to pay attention

• Ways AI fosters new attachments and alters expectations for authentic relationships

• How preparation for teaching and preaching must adapt to “shortcut” answers and instant access

• Why the rise of synthetic media demands a ministry-wide reset of credibility, trust, and discernment

Key Quotes:

“AI is going to impact us even more so than social media has.” — Kenny Jang

“Pastors are going to meet people who have already rehearsed their inner story in private ways before they get to the pastor.” — Kenny Jang

“Our churches need to lead in teaching how to build authentic relationships, how to be a basic friend.” — Kenny Jang

“Trust is the currency that churches trade on…we’re moving quite rapidly into a synthetic world where we are not going to know what’s true, what’s real, and what’s not.” — Kenny Jang

Links & Resources Mentioned:

AI For Church Leaders and Pastors Facebook Group

www.FrontDoor.church

About the Church Tech Today Podcast: The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.FrontDoor.church.

In this episode, Kenny Jahng sits down with Greg Daley, founder of Parable, to unpack key findings from a nationwide survey on the state of church finances. Greg shares practical insights on trust, transparency, and the financial habits that help—or hinder—ministry impact. Discover the quiet disruptors affecting church giving, the risks of volunteer bookkeepers, and steps for building a culture of generosity rooted in freedom. Whether you lead a church plant or a multi-site ministry, you'll gain actionable strategies for stewarding every dollar on mission.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why the gap between perceived trust and real transparency could be eroding your congregation’s confidence
• How regular, clear financial updates can serve as a gateway to greater generosity
• Risks and hidden costs of relying on volunteer bookkeepers—even if they’re “free”
• The unintended complexity churches create with too many digital giving platforms
• How budget versus actual reporting protects your ministry and points to system issues before crisis hits
• Practical ways to shift your financial leadership posture from scarcity to abundance and partnership
• The power of connecting giving directly to mission impact for all generations in your church

Key Quotes:

“Trust is a gateway to generosity. Without trust, there is no true generosity.” — Greg Daley

“That lack of transparency is like a little blister, or a hairline crack that’s easy to miss now but can really undermine trust over time if not addressed.” — Greg Daley

“If you don’t have a budget versus actual report you look at, you’re basically driving a car without any dashboard.” — Kenny Jahng

“You’ve got to actually get more simple as you get more complex.” — Greg Daley

“The Bible says, where your money is, there your heart will be also. If we can shepherd our people and talk about money as discipleship, not just when it’s timely for our campaign, we bring freedom and partnership.” — Greg Daley

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Parable State of Church Finances Report

Barnabas Network

Respite

Parable: www.liveyourparable.com

Generous Giving

About the Church Tech Today Podcast: Hosted by Kenny Jahng, the CTT Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. This resource for leadership is brought to you by www.MinistryLink.com

Join Kenny Jahng, host of the Church Tech Today podcast, as he welcomes Matt Cook, CEO of Aberdeen Broadcast Services, to unpack how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing accessibility in the church. This episode spotlights how AI-powered translation, captioning, and voice dubbing are opening doors for churches to connect with multilingual, hearing-impaired, and younger generations. Matt shares practical strategies and real-world stories, making this a must-listen for any ministry leader considering new ways to foster belonging and reach more people—right in their local context. Tune in to discover tools, mindsets, and first steps to make your church services more engaging and inclusive.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How AI-driven captioning and translation are making church services instantly accessible to diverse language groups and the hearing-impaired

• Why closed captions benefit not just those with hearing needs, but also younger generations (Gen Z, millennials) who now expect this as part of digital and in-person experiences

• What the latest stats reveal about video caption usage in church and secular settings, and how this influences church attendance and engagement

• Steps to set up live AI captioning and translation—even for smaller churches with limited budgets or tech experience

• Creative ways churches are leveraging translation beyond Sunday services, including special events and outreach initiatives