Hi Reader,
Most conversations about AI in the church are really just conversations about prompts. Which tools to use, how to automate your workflow. Those are fine questions.
But what if you've been asking the wrong question.
What if the real question is, what is AI going to do to people? To the people in your church? To your city? To humanity?
For example, already 31% of teenagers would now rather talk to an AI than a human being. The people most at risk of losing their jobs to AI are the white-collar professionals sitting in your pews. And the #1 use of AI in 2026 is companionship, which can only mean the mental health crisis is going to get worse. People are already finding it easier to connect with a chatbot than with a church.
In this episode, AI specialist James (JP) Poulter flips the mic and interviews me on the ideas behind my new book, AI and the Future Church.
We get very practical about how to prepare your church now, including building financial margin, expanding pastoral care, protecting your integrity, using AI wisely, and moving people from crowds into genuine community.
If you want to see what I've been working on for two years, this is my brain dump. I don't think I've ever felt this passionate about getting church leaders synced up around an issue before.
The goal isn’t to just survive the AI era, but to thrive through it. I believe this could be the church's finest hour, and a chance to reach more people than ever.
🎧 Listen now and take the next step toward healthier leadership. Watch it on YouTube or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.
This episode is brought to you by...
AI and the Future Church
So my thoughts are also available in book form! I wrote AI and the Future Church to give church leaders a practical playbook for what’s ahead. It’s built around three shifts every church leader needs to make, and it’s grounded in what’s actually happening right now.
Pre-order before September 15th at careynieuwhof.com/ai and you’ll get the full executive summary AND audiobook for free! You can start listening now, before the book is released.
Church Growth Engine
If your church has faithful people, solid preaching, and genuine love for God but still feels stuck, Church Growth Engine's free guide “Why Do Good Churches Get Stuck?” identifies ten fixable problems and gives you practical steps toward thriving ministry.
Get it free at churchgrowthengine.com/actionplan.
StudioC
Our friends at StudioC built the free Church Communications Grader to show you exactly where your church’s communication is strong and where people are slipping through the gaps. In about three minutes, you’ll get a score, your biggest opportunity, and practical recommendations based on your role.
Take it for free at studioc.org/carey.
