The Church Tech Today Podcast with Kenny Jahng | AI for Church Leaders | Church Online

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Discover how technology can empower your church on The Church Tech Today Podcast hosted by Kenny Jahng. Explore the world of AI for churches, and best practices for digital ministry, engagement through church online, content marketing, social media, texting, and more. Produced by ChurchTechToday.com, the #1 digital ministry & technology website for pastors, communicators, and church leaders. Subscribe now and join the conversation!

  1. Jun 30

    5 Lessons On Using AI Well That Make You Faster At The Boring Work And Better At The Work That Matters With Kenny Jahng

    Episode Summary In this insightful solo episode, Kenny Jahng reflects on his journey using AI tools over the past several years. Drawing from personal experience, Kenny Jahng distills five core lessons for maximizing the benefits of AI—making you faster at tedious work and better at the tasks that truly matter. From the importance of clarity and personal judgment to treating AI as a partner (not just a tool), Kenny Jahng provides practical wisdom for leaders and knowledge workers eager to leverage AI without losing their distinct value. Key Topics Discussed Evolution of AI in Everyday Work Kenny Jahng shares how AI shifted from a novelty to an essential part of his daily workflow, now open almost all the time when working 00:00:49. Lesson 1: Clarity is Key AI can only amplify the clarity you bring. If your thoughts are fuzzy, AI will return fuzzy results 00:02:05. You must be clear about your objectives before prompting AI. Lesson 2: The Importance of Human Judgment The most valuable skill isn’t prompt crafting, but applying your own expertise to evaluate AI outputs 00:04:04. AI produces confidence, but discernment determines value. Lesson 3: AI Excels at the 80%—You Finish the Last Mile AI is great for rough drafts and rapid ideation, but the final polish relies on your intervention 00:06:42. Lesson 4: Make AI Argue With You Don’t accept output at face value—treat AI as a sparring partner, asking it to poke holes in your logic for deeper insights 00:08:44. Lesson 5: Guard Your Discernment The biggest risk is outsourcing your thinking to AI and losing the muscle of discernment 00:12:04. Deliberate growth, reflection, and collaboration with humans are essential. Notable Quotes “AI is only as clear as you are yourself.” 00:02:05 “Your judgment is the skill that matters the most.” 00:04:04 “AI sprints with you... But that last mile, the last half mile is the crazy hard part that’s on you.” 00:06:42 “You must make AI argue with you. You have to pick a fight.” 00:08:44 “The real risk is outsourcing your discernment at the end of the day.” 00:12:04 “Is it making me wiser or is it making me busier? That’s a question I’m constantly asking.” 00:16:45 Resources & Recommendations Google NotebookLM: Mentioned as a tool for building personas, creating a board of advisors, and setting up AI as a more challenging counterpart 00:10:48. Personal Growth Practices: Kenny Jahng emphasizes the importance of reading books, listening to podcasts, and learning from real experts, beyond AI-generated responses 00:13:52. Encouragement to Connect: Listeners are invited to share their own lessons or questions about AI by emailing kenny@churchtechtoday.com 00:17:07. For more episodes and resources, visit Church Tech Today. Let me know if you need these notes in a different format or want summaries for additional recordings!

  2. Jun 19

    Five Common AI Questions Pastors Are Afraid to Ask with Kenny Jahng

    Episode Summary: In this solo episode, Kenny Jahng, founder of AIforChurchLeaders.com, confronts the five most common—and often unspoken—questions pastors have about artificial intelligence in ministry. He shares practical first steps for engaging with AI, explains why every church needs an AI policy, and offers biblical framing for approaching technology from the pulpit. Church leaders will walk away with actionable tips, encouragement for honest conversations, and resources to help their teams discern wise use of AI tools. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to begin using AI in ministry by tackling a real, low-stakes problem this week Why immediate, simple AI policies matter for churches already using these tools What lines leaders should draw when using AI for sermon preparation to maintain integrity Ways to biblically address AI from the pulpit and build your congregation’s digital discernment Which tasks are appropriate (and which are risky) for church staff to automate with AI The importance of regular dialogue and shared frameworks among staff and volunteers Where to find structured resources and courses tailored for ministry leaders engaging with AI Key Quotes: “Taking the first steps is going to help you figure out what the next steps are going to be.” — Kenny Jahng “Transparency builds trust every single time in every single direction.” — Kenny Jahng “You can use AI in the front end, but you yourself have to show up on the back end.” — Kenny Jahng “AI is a tool built by people who bear the image of a creative God.” — Kenny Jahng “The mission is about serving others. That is something that you need to keep central.” — Kenny Jahng Links & Resources Mentioned: https://aiforchurchleaders.comhttps://chatgpt4churchs.comhttps://aipolicysimplesimple.comhttps://www.FrontDoor.churchState of AI in the Church national survey report About the Church Tech Today Podcast: The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.FrontDoor.church.

  3. Jun 9

    Addressing Loneliness: The Impact of AI on Church Life and Leadership with Corey Alderin, Ed Stetzer and Kenny Jahng

    Episode Summary: In this episode, host Kenny Jahng sits down with Dr. Ed Stetzer, Dean of the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, to explore how AI technology is disrupting relationships, fueling loneliness, and reshaping the mission of the Church. They dive deep into how pastors and ministry leaders can thoughtfully respond as more people—especially young adults—turn to chatbots for connection and counsel. Listeners will discover practical wisdom for stewarding AI in ministry, fostering authentic community, and creating space for biblical reflection amidst rapid technological change. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why AI has emerged at a critical time for relational and mental health crises in society How large language models and chatbots are changing where people turn for advice and therapy What pastors can do to address the epidemic of loneliness exacerbated by technology The importance of preserving human-in-the-loop oversight when using AI tools in ministry How to encourage countercultural, authentic Christian community in a digital age Powerful cautions and boundaries for deploying AI-generated content in church communications Why discernment and theological reflection must pace with technology adoption among church staff Key Quotes: “AI comes along and it personifies and personalizes your opportunity to have relationships online.” — Ed Stetzer “The antidote to an AI-driven crisis of loneliness is small community where we provoke one another to love and good deeds.” — Ed Stetzer “You don’t have to be an expert on AI, but you can call people to community.” — Ed Stetzer “If I’m in between the output of AI and where I’m placing it, that’s a line I know I’m on the right side of.” — Corey (Sermon Shots) “The rate of adoption is outpacing the thoughtfulness to it.” — Kenny Jahng Links & Resources Mentioned: Sermon Shots: https://sermonshots.com Talbot School of Theology, Biola University: https://www.biola.edu/talbot ChurchTechToday.com: https://churchtechtoday.com Exponential AI Next: https://exponential.org/ai-next/ State of AI in the Church Report edstetzer.com: http://edstetzer.com About the Church Tech Today Podcast: The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.FrontDoor.church.

  4. May 18

    4 Types of Church Data Every XP Should Be Tracking with Kenny Jahng [S06 E02]

    Most churches have more data than they know what to do with. The CHMS is generating reports. The giving platform has a full dashboard. Planning Center is logging every volunteer shift. ...And usually, most of it is connected to a regular leadership habit. In this episode, Kenny Jahng, editor-in-chief at ChurchTechToday.com, breaks down a four-domain framework for what executive pastors and lead pastors should actually be tracking: Attendance and engagementGiving and stewardshipVolunteer and team healthDigital and outreachYou'll walk away with specific metrics to start watching, why most churches go blind on second-visit return rates, what a lapsed donor report tells you that a giving total never will, and a simple Monday morning habit that takes 15 minutes and keeps you ahead of every board meeting conversation. Data is not a scoreboard. These numbers represent real people. This episode is about how to read them that way.

  5. Feb 17

    The 4 Dangers of Using AI For Your Sermons (According to Carey Nieuwhof)

    ChatGPT can generate a sermon manuscript faster than you can brew your morning coffee. But should it? In this episode of the Church Tech Today Podcast, host Kenny Jahng breaks down Carey Nieuwhof’s recent message on the ethics of AI in ministry, and the 4 dangers every pastor needs to hear before letting algorithms into the pulpit. From stunted spiritual formation to a subtle form of plagiarism, Nieuwhof argues that bypassing the hard work of sermon prep doesn’t just shortchange your congregation—it shortchanges you. In this episode: Why the grind of sermon prep is a feature, not a bug The “unwritten contract” you might be breaking with your church How AI-generated content loses authentic resonance The long-term cost to your authority as a teacher Carey isn’t anti-tech, but he is pro-human.And this conversation is one every pastor using AI needs to have. Watch Nieuwhof’s full video and read more at ChurchTechToday.com: https://churchtechtoday.com/4-warnings-about-ai-carey-nieuwhof-makes-to-preachers/

  6. Jan 6

    7 Issues No One Is Talking About With Kenny Jahng

    Episode Summary  Kenny Jahng, host of the Church Tech Today Podcast, dives into seven critical threads for ministry leaders around the impact of AI on church life. Drawing from his experience consulting and leading workshops nationwide, Kenny unveils how artificial intelligence is influencing identity, spiritual rhythms, relationships, and trust in ways most church leaders haven’t considered. Listeners will walk away with a fresh framework to anticipate the challenges and opportunities AI brings to their churches. If you’re responsible for shaping discipleship, teaching, or community, this episode is both a practical wake-up call and an invitation to join the conversation. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why AI is silently shaping people’s spiritual identity—even more than social media How instant AI responses are reshaping prayer, reflection, and expectations in discipleship What it means that AI tools are now the “first conversation partner” before pastors How algorithms and AI can shift congregational emotional tone—and why churches need to pay attention Ways AI fosters new attachments and alters expectations for authentic relationships How preparation for teaching and preaching must adapt to “shortcut” answers and instant access Why the rise of synthetic media demands a ministry-wide reset of credibility, trust, and discernment Key Quotes: “AI is going to impact us even more so than social media has.” — Kenny Jang “Pastors are going to meet people who have already rehearsed their inner story in private ways before they get to the pastor.” — Kenny Jang “Our churches need to lead in teaching how to build authentic relationships, how to be a basic friend.” — Kenny Jang “Trust is the currency that churches trade on…we’re moving quite rapidly into a synthetic world where we are not going to know what’s true, what’s real, and what’s not.” — Kenny Jang Links & Resources Mentioned: AI For Church Leaders and Pastors Facebook Group www.FrontDoor.church About the Church Tech Today Podcast: The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.FrontDoor.church.

  7. 11/28/2025

    The Transparency Gap in Church Finances With Greg Daley and Kenny Jahng

    In this episode, Kenny Jahng sits down with Greg Daley, founder of Parable, to unpack key findings from a nationwide survey on the state of church finances. Greg shares practical insights on trust, transparency, and the financial habits that help—or hinder—ministry impact. Discover the quiet disruptors affecting church giving, the risks of volunteer bookkeepers, and steps for building a culture of generosity rooted in freedom. Whether you lead a church plant or a multi-site ministry, you'll gain actionable strategies for stewarding every dollar on mission. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why the gap between perceived trust and real transparency could be eroding your congregation’s confidenceHow regular, clear financial updates can serve as a gateway to greater generosityRisks and hidden costs of relying on volunteer bookkeepers—even if they’re “free”The unintended complexity churches create with too many digital giving platformsHow budget versus actual reporting protects your ministry and points to system issues before crisis hitsPractical ways to shift your financial leadership posture from scarcity to abundance and partnershipThe power of connecting giving directly to mission impact for all generations in your church Key Quotes: “Trust is a gateway to generosity. Without trust, there is no true generosity.” — Greg Daley “That lack of transparency is like a little blister, or a hairline crack that’s easy to miss now but can really undermine trust over time if not addressed.” — Greg Daley “If you don’t have a budget versus actual report you look at, you’re basically driving a car without any dashboard.” — Kenny Jahng “You’ve got to actually get more simple as you get more complex.” — Greg Daley “The Bible says, where your money is, there your heart will be also. If we can shepherd our people and talk about money as discipleship, not just when it’s timely for our campaign, we bring freedom and partnership.” — Greg Daley Links & Resources Mentioned: Parable State of Church Finances Report Barnabas Network Respite Parable: www.liveyourparable.com Generous Giving About the Church Tech Today Podcast: Hosted by Kenny Jahng, the CTT Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. This resource for leadership is brought to you by www.MinistryLink.com

  8. 10/09/2025

    The One AI-Powered Thing Gen Z and Millenial Audiences Want At Sunday Services That Every Church Can Provide with Matt Cook and Kenny Jahng

    Join Kenny Jahng, host of the Church Tech Today podcast, as he welcomes Matt Cook, CEO of Aberdeen Broadcast Services, to unpack how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing accessibility in the church. This episode spotlights how AI-powered translation, captioning, and voice dubbing are opening doors for churches to connect with multilingual, hearing-impaired, and younger generations. Matt shares practical strategies and real-world stories, making this a must-listen for any ministry leader considering new ways to foster belonging and reach more people—right in their local context. Tune in to discover tools, mindsets, and first steps to make your church services more engaging and inclusive. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How AI-driven captioning and translation are making church services instantly accessible to diverse language groups and the hearing-impaired Why closed captions benefit not just those with hearing needs, but also younger generations (Gen Z, millennials) who now expect this as part of digital and in-person experiences What the latest stats reveal about video caption usage in church and secular settings, and how this influences church attendance and engagement Steps to set up live AI captioning and translation—even for smaller churches with limited budgets or tech experience Creative ways churches are leveraging translation beyond Sunday services, including special events and outreach initiatives How AI-powered voice dubbing can help ESL (English-as-a-Second-Language) attendees fully participate in worship and teachingKey considerations for regional dialects and translation accuracy when using modern AI tools Key Quotes: "70% of Gen Z and 53% of millennials are using closed captions on a regular basis, so why wouldn't you offer it as a church?" — Matt Cook "It's not just an accessibility issue. This is about engagement—helping every person better absorb and remember the message." — Kenny Jahng "The decision is the hardest part. Once you do it, you realize the benefits of captioning and translation across the board." — Matt Cook "As easy as it is to do today, it seems kind of crazy that you wouldn't at least do the English side of things first." — Matt Cook Links & Resources Mentioned: Aberdeen Broadcast Services: https://aberdeen.io Contact: 949-858-4463 Email: sales@aberdeen.io Referenced survey (Preply): https://preply.com/en/blog/captions-subtitles-statistics/ About the Church Tech Today Podcast: The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.AIforChurchLeaders.com.

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Discover how technology can empower your church on The Church Tech Today Podcast hosted by Kenny Jahng. Explore the world of AI for churches, and best practices for digital ministry, engagement through church online, content marketing, social media, texting, and more. Produced by ChurchTechToday.com, the #1 digital ministry & technology website for pastors, communicators, and church leaders. Subscribe now and join the conversation!

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