Ministry Leadership in the Age of AI

Technology expert Kenny Jahng shares AI insights

Christian Leadership Alliance President and CEO Tami Heim recently interviewed Kenny Jahng, Founder & CEO of Big Click Syndicate and AIforMinistryLeaders.com.

Kenny Jahng is an entrepreneur, pastor, and strategic advisor. As a Story Brand Certified Guide, he partners with mission-driven leaders and organizations to amplify their impact through strategic messaging and positioning. He has spearheaded campaigns for American Bible Society, Biblica, CDF Capital, Leadership Network, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, The United Methodist Church, and more.

Big Click Syndicate helps cause-driven organizations to gain the highest visibility for the good they do by making sure their messages are accessible to the right audiences. AIforMinistryLeaders.com helps ministry leaders to learn about new AI tools and digital innovation techniques they can put into action while staying on top of AI’s rapid evolution.

Kenny previously served as the Online Pastor at one of Outreach Magazine’s Fastest Growing Churches in America. His number one passion is helping cause-driven leaders gain clarity on how to connect with the right audiences.

Kenny earned a BA from Duke University, an MBA from Columbia Business School and an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary.

What do ministry leaders most need to know about AI today?

Artificial intelligence has moved from the horizon to the front door. It is now part of daily leadership reality here and now today. Not 2030, here today in 2025. Ministry and nonprofit leaders need to see AI as a practical tool that can strengthen their mission and extend their reach. When used wisely, it helps leaders serve with focus, insight, and creativity.

AI can analyze data, draft materials, automate workflows, and identify patterns that guide decision-making. It can save time, surface new opportunities, and multiply impact. Yet, no matter how advanced it becomes, technology cannot pray, discern, empathize, or love. The human element of ministry, presence, compassion, discernment, remains irreplaceable.

Every organization should also have an AI policy. A policy sets boundaries for ethical use, privacy, and accountability. It ensures that innovation serves your values rather than steering them. A policy is like a compass: it keeps your direction true even when technology moves fast.

AI is simply the latest medium for timeless truth.

Technology has always shaped how the church and Christian nonprofits share the gospel and serve communities. The printing press multiplied Scripture, radio expanded evangelism, and digital media made ministry global. AI is simply the latest medium for timeless truth. It will not redefine your calling, but it will reshape how you fulfill it if you use it well.

How can ministry leaders embrace digital innovation and stay on mission?

The goal of innovation for ministries should not be novelty but faithfulness. Every technological decision should begin with mission alignment. Ask, “Does this help us love people better, communicate more clearly, or steward resources more effectively?” If it doesn’t, pause.

Start small and learn fast. Pilot one project – a chatbot for donor questions, an AI tool for drafting reports, or a scheduling assistant for your team. Reflect on what worked and where human touch was needed. Early experiments create space for growth.

Keep relationships central. AI should amplify your ministry’s voice, not replace it. Let the efficiency of technology make room for more authentic human engagement.

Build a culture of curiosity. Encourage your staff and volunteers to explore tools, share insights, and test ideas. When experimentation is celebrated, innovation becomes part of your ministry rhythm.

Guard clarity of mission. The constant flood of new tools can blur priorities. Stay grounded in purpose so you are guided by calling, not by trend.

What are some AI dangers to avoid and opportunities to embrace?

AI definitely brings both risk and reward. Wise leaders stay aware of both.

Dangers to avoid:

Over-automation. Ministry happens through people, not programs. Don’t trade connection for convenience.
Ethical drift. AI is trained on biased data. Always check that outputs reflect biblical truth and moral integrity.
Loss of authenticity. Audiences notice when messages sound mechanical. Keep your voice human and transparent.
Privacy risks. Understand what data tools collect and how they store it. Protect donors, members, and staff.
Weak stewardship. Innovation costs time, training, and resources. Evaluate total investment, not just efficiency.

Opportunities to embrace:

Automating repetitive tasks to free staff for personal ministry.
Using AI to brainstorm ideas, refine writing, and generate creative assets.
Personalizing communication so every message feels specific and timely.
Leveraging analytics to spot giving or attendance patterns.
Using translation tools to reach multilingual or global audiences.

Paul reminded believers, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Cor. 9:22). AI can be one of those all-means, when guided by wisdom and discernment.

As an early AI adopter, what do you see coming with AI in the next five years?

Over the next five years, AI will be embedded in nearly every digital platform. From donor management to communications to resource creation, AI will operate quietly in the background of ministry tools. The question will shift from if to how you will use it.

Predictive analytics will allow ministries to act earlier and serve better. You will be able to identify when a donor’s giving patterns shift or when a volunteer needs re-engagement before burnout occurs.

Content creation will also change dramatically. Webinars, sermons, newsletters, and event recaps can be transformed automatically into devotionals, clips, or study guides. This kind of repurposing can multiply outreach without adding staff.

Personalization will become the new normal. AI will tailor resources to individuals’ interests, learning styles, and spiritual needs. It will enable ministries to communicate more personally while scaling their reach.

The next major challenge will be ethical and theological, not technical. As AI imitates emotion and creativity, leaders will need to ask: What does it mean to create with integrity? How do we ensure that truth, compassion, and discernment remain human responsibilities?

AI will also expand global collaboration. Translation, transcription, and accessibility tools will allow ministries in different regions to share training and ideas instantly. Barriers will shrink as cooperation grows.

How can today’s technology help nonprofits connect with givers?

Artificial intelligence will reshape how nonprofits connect with supporters. Here are practical ways AI can do that:

Use AI to understand donor motivations. AI can analyze patterns in giving, engagement, and communication to help you tailor appeals and updates that resonate personally with each supporter.
Personalize storytelling at scale. AI tools can adapt stories, visuals, and videos for different audiences, ensuring each donor sees how their giving makes a specific impact.
Automate gratitude and follow-up. AI-driven workflows can send timely thank-you notes, generate personalized updates, and even suggest next steps for engagement, freeing staff to focus on genuine connections.
Predict donor behavior. Predictive analytics can identify when a donor might be ready for a deeper relationship, likely to lapse, or interested in a new campaign.
Simplify giving journeys. Chatbots and smart assistants can guide donors through questions, event signups, or online giving in a natural, conversational way.
Enhance transparency. AI-powered dashboards can help donors see real-time results of their gifts, creating confidence and clarity.

When AI helps you understand and serve supporters better, giving becomes less transactional and more relational.

You are not late; you are early. God has positioned you perfectly for this season. The Church has always been a pioneer in communication, from scrolls to satellites. You are part of that same heritage of innovation.

Be confident in what God has already given you. The creativity, discernment, and courage that have carried you through past challenges are the same qualities needed now. You are equipped for this moment.

Go deep before you go wide. Technology moves fast, but formation takes time. Lead from a grounded heart, not a restless pace. Prayer and reflection remain your best leadership tools.

Stay curious and connected. Don’t walk this path alone. Gather peers, explore together, and learn from peer-to-peer communities of Christians exploring AI together. Shared discovery fosters wisdom.

Remember that relationships endure. Algorithms can deliver messages, but only people can embody love. Let your compassion outshine your content.

Lead with hope. The pace of change can feel overwhelming but hope steadies vision. Hope reframes challenge as opportunity and innovation as ministry.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Whether that light shines through a livestream, an app, or an AI conversational chatbot, its source remains divine.

Closing Perspective

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of how ministry and nonprofit work happens. I’ve watched leaders use it to find fresh energy, improve communication, and make time for the work that matters most. It can help you listen better to your audience, create with focus, and serve more personally. The opportunity is not about mastering a tool but about expanding how you live out your calling.

This is a season to explore and imagine.

This is a season to explore and imagine. We can experiment, ask better questions, and use AI to reveal new ways to share God’s love in a digital culture. It is one more instrument in the toolkit of kingdom creativity, waiting to be played with purpose.

God’s story is still being written through us. As we learn, adapt, and create, we become part of that ongoing chapter: faithful, curious, and ready for what comes next. What a time to be alive.

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Kenny Jahng will lead the NEW AI Summit at The Outcomes Conference 2026 in Dallas, Texas (April 28-30). Please join us for this transformational event for Christian nonprofit leaders. Register >>