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Almost half your church trusts AI with their spiritual growth
Published about 23 hours ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader,
Did you know 48% of practicing Christians say they trust AI with their spiritual growth?
This is not the casual attenders... not the Christmas-and-Easter crowd... this is practicing Christians. The people who show up, give, serve, and open their Bibles.
According to recent Barna research, half of them now trust AI with their spiritual life.
Before you move on, it gets more personal than that. Roughly one in three of your most committed members has already put AI's spiritual advice in the same trust category as yours.
That stings a little, doesn't it?
Now, when Barna asked pastors the same question, the gap between how you see AI and how your congregation sees it turned out to be a canyon. And that canyon is exactly where the opportunity is.
Your people aren't naive about this, because the same research shows they're worried about AI (actually, very worried), and they're using it anyway. They're living inside a tension they don't know how to resolve. And a third of them are explicitly asking for one thing:
People want their pastor to walk them through it.
Their hand is raised. But the question is: how do we answer?
In this video, I break down the numbers you haven't seen yet, why this gap exists, and the single most practical thing you can do this fall to become the trusted voice on AI in your church.
Because if you don't disciple your people on this, the algorithm is standing by, working overtime, and it currently has them 49 hours a week.
Watch the full video ↓
This is moving fast. But the research isn't telling you your people have walked away from you. It's telling you they're hoping you'll show up.
P.S. One more thing, pastor to pastor. This research isn't an indictment of you, your people aren't turning to AI because you failed them. They are turning to it because it's always available, and you're one person. You were never meant to be everywhere at once, but you were called to lead them through moments exactly like this one. Let's do that, together.
Carey Nieuwhof Communications, PO Box 160, Oro Medonte, Ontario L0L 2X0
Carey Nieuwhof
Where 100,000+ leaders get top insights to thrive in life and leadership.
Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.