Episode #476 of the Church Solutions Podcast
Guests: Phil Thompson, Steve Lacy, and Kenny Jahng
Ministry is rewarding—but let’s face it, it’s also overwhelming. If you’re a pastor or church leader, you already know the pressures: long hours, limited staff, and endless responsibilities. This week on the Church Solutions Podcast, we welcomed longtime friend and digital ministry strategist Kenny Jahng to tackle a growing challenge in the ministry world: how do we handle the stress—and can AI really help?
The Ministry Reality: Stress Is on the Rise
Kenny wasted no time bringing the facts:
- 75% of pastors say they’re highly or extremely stressed.
- 90% work 55–75 hours per week.
- 40% are at high risk for burnout—a 400% increase since 2015.
And it’s not just big churches feeling it. Even pastors leading congregations of 50 people are spread thin. The good news? There’s help on the horizon—and it’s not just another church growth strategy.
Enter Agentic AI: The Intern You Never Knew You Had
AI isn’t just for Silicon Valley. Kenny introduced us to a new concept making waves in tech and ministry circles alike: Agentic AI. This next-level AI doesn’t just respond to commands—it takes initiative. It plans, reasons, makes decisions, and performs multi-step tasks—all without constant supervision.
Imagine an AI assistant that scans your calendar, identifies meetings with outside guests, researches them on LinkedIn, summarizes their church website, and emails you the context—all before the meeting even starts. That’s not the future. That’s now.
AI in Action: Practical Examples for Busy Leaders
If you’re unsure how AI could fit into your ministry life, here are some ideas Kenny shared:
- Sermon Repurposing: Use tools like DailyDive365.com or SermonShots.com to turn your Sunday message into bite-sized daily devotions, small group content, or a podcast—without adding hours to your week.
- Email Support: AI won’t send emails for you without approval (and it shouldn’t), but it can draft personalized responses using your tone and style—saving time without sacrificing authenticity.
- Tough Conversations: Facing a difficult staff or counseling discussion? Use AI to role-play scenarios and prepare responses, reducing anxiety and increasing confidence.
- Meeting Prep: Automate research on guests or outside collaborators so you walk into every meeting informed and ready.
Shift Your Mindset: Think of AI as Your Intern
Kenny’s favorite metaphor? Think of AI as a strategic, well-read intern who just joined your team. It’s not perfect—but it learns fast. The more clearly you delegate, the better results you’ll get. And just like a human intern, AI works best when you invite feedback and offer direction.
“We often expect AI to just solve our problems magically,” Kenny said. “But you’ve got to equip it—just like you would any new team member.”
Where to Start: AI Tools for Small Churches
Kenny recommends beginning with just a few tools:
- ChatGPT – The Swiss army knife of AI. Use it for research, writing, sermon prep, and more. Want to go hands-free? Call 1-800-CHATGPT and talk to it like a team member.
- Daily Dive 365 – Converts sermons into a week of devotions, voiced by your pastor, delivered via app or podcast.
- Sermon Shots – Great for creating social media content and highlights from sermons to boost engagement online.
Coming Up: Practical AI Workshop for Ministry
Kenny also shared details on an upcoming online workshop:
🗓 “Ministry Automation: A Practical Workshop for AI Agents”
📅 May 30 at 1:00 PM ET
📍 AIforChurchLeaders.com/next
Attendees get access to a training library, live demos, and downloadable playbooks. If you miss the live event, recordings and materials are available to members at AIforChurchLeaders.com.
Final Thoughts
We closed the podcast reflecting on how AI is reshaping not just church administration but the communities we serve. The future isn’t coming—it’s already here. And as ministry leaders, we’re called not only to adapt but to guide our communities through this shift.
Whether you’re already dabbling in AI tools or feeling hesitant, Kenny’s advice is simple:
“You don’t have to become the AI expert. Just become the facilitator of the conversation.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Listen to the full episode at
🎧 StreamingChurch.tv/podcast
Let’s embrace the future—together.
Blog by the Church Solutions Podcast Team – Helping ministries leverage technology since 2001.