The Church Must Lead on AI By Ryan Beck

The Church as Digital Force for Multiplication   

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches across the globe were thrust into the digital age seemingly overnight. Live-streamed services, Zoom Bible studies, and online prayer groups became the norm — not because we were ready, but because we had no choice. That digital leap brought with it a realization: the mission of the Church doesn’t stop at the four walls of a building. In many ways, that crisis helped us bypass years of slow progress in adopting new technologies.

Now, with artificial intelligence (AI) on the rise, the Church stands at another inflection point. Will we repeat our past pattern of resistance and be forced to play catch-up once again? Or will we see AI for what it truly is — a powerful tool that can be harnessed for redemptive purposes, if led by those grounded in truth?

AI as a Force Multiplier

Having spent my career at the intersection of ministry and technology, I’ve seen firsthand how digital tools can help ministries streamline their work and expand their reach — when used wisely. AI is not a threat to the ministry; it’s a force multiplier for it.

Many leaders feel overwhelmed by the pace of AI’s advancement. Yes, technology evolves faster than most of us can fully grasp. But here’s the reality: digital communities are forming faster and often more deeply than physical ones. AI tools enable ministries to serve digital communities with greater precision, personalization, and care.

In the past, a single presentation would reach a single group in a single location at once. Today, AI enables that same message to be adapted into multiple formats — emails, devotionals, social media clips, translations — customized to individual needs or spiritual questions. This isn’t about mass production; it’s about meaningful connection and multiplication of resources.

Some ministries are beginning to implement digital assistants — AI tools that can translate messages into dozens of languages, generate teaching materials, automate communications, and even facilitate online giving and donor engagement. These tools don’t replace human leaders; they help them scale their message and focus their energy on more relational aspects of ministry. AI can serve as a kind of “digital volunteer,” a tireless helper that equips ministries to serve more people than ever before.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

The internet was a once-in-a-generation innovation, but the Church was largely absent in shaping its moral framework. As a result, we’ve spent the last two decades reacting to the negative consequences of digital culture, from online addiction to misinformation to moral confusion. If we want a different outcome with AI, we must engage proactively, not passively.

AI will be used for both good and harm. That much is certain. But it’s our responsibility as Christians to demonstrate how this technology can be wielded redemptively. We don’t need to be afraid of the tools; we need to ensure they’re in the right hands and used for the right purposes.

That starts with embracing a theology of technology. It means asking hard questions: How do we preserve authenticity in an age of synthetic content? How do we ensure theological accuracy in AI-generated materials? How can we steward this technology to deepen — not diminish — discipleship?

It also means investing in education. Every ministry leader and digital decision-maker should be trained not only in how AI works, but also in how to use it ethically and faithfully. If we don’t lead the conversation, others will.

Let’s not Miss this Chance.

We’ve been here before. The printing press revolutionized access to Scripture and helped fuel the Protestant Reformation. The Church helped lead that revolution. In contrast, the internet age largely left the Church in a reactive posture, trying to reclaim territory after other voices had already shaped it.

Now, we have another chance. Let’s not miss it. We are only in the early stages of what AI can do. This is the “dial-up internet” era of intelligent tools. As innovations emerge, they will transform the ways we communicate, evangelize, and disciple. But only if we’re paying attention. Only if we lean in.

AI is not just about efficiency. At its best, it can be a catalyst for deeper engagement and spiritual growth. If used wisely, it can help the Church fulfill the Great Commission — reaching people across every nation, language, and digital space.

Ten years from now, we’ll look back and ask: Did we let fear or faith drive our decisions? Let us lead in love, innovation, conviction, and clarity. Because if the Church doesn’t shape the future of AI, someone else will. And their values may not align with the gospel.

We have the tools. The calling is clear. We have the opportunity. Now we need the courage.

Ryan Beck is a founder and Chief Technology Officer for PRAY.COM, the #1 brand for faith-based media and technology, dedicated to helping people make prayer a priority in their daily lives.

Join us for the Outcomes Conference and be sure to check out the AI Summit on April 30, 2026!

The Team from PRAY.COM will be there, too!