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. 2d ago

    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.

    29 min

  2. 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.

    19 min

  3. 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/

    8 min

  4. 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.

    14 min

  5. 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

    36 min

  6. 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.

    27 min

  7. 07/30/2025

    How To Reach + Retain Gen Z On Insta + YouTube

    Episode Summary: In this episode, Kenny Jahng sits down with Nils Gulbranson, a digitally native Christian content creator, to explore how to make biblical teaching both accessible and engaging on digital platforms. Nils shares the strategies behind his rapid growth to nearly 100K followers and millions of views, plus actionable advice for churches looking to connect with younger audiences online. Listeners will discover practical steps for building an authentic digital presence, choosing the right platforms, and crafting content that resonates with today’s digitally native generation. Whether you’re a pastor or a church communicator, you’ll come away with new ideas to amplify your ministry’s voice online. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How Nils identified a gap between traditional biblical scholarship and Gen Z’s content consumption—and why he stepped in to bridge it Why reframing your view from “algorithm” to “audience” transforms your approach to social media strategy The most common mistakes churches make in their digital outreach—and what to stop doing right now Why authenticity and “messy” realness outperform overly polished, perfection-driven content for younger audiences Which digital platform holds the greatest potential for churches today, and where to focus your limited resources for maximum impact How to assemble a lean, effective digital ministry team—even when resources are limited The case for pastors building a personal online platform alongside the church’s official accounts Key Quotes: “Algorithm and audience is synonymous. If the algorithm doesn’t like your video, it means that your audience doesn’t like your video.” — Nils Gulbranson “Stop trying to make everything look perfect…we crave authenticity.” — Nils Gulbranson “If you are going to take resources and focus on one platform, it's YouTube.” — Nils Gulbranson “Version One is better than Version None. Just get it out the door.” — Kenny Jahng “Our source of creativity comes from God… Christians should be the forefront of excellence when it comes to all domains of life.” — Nils Gulbranson Links & Resources Mentioned: Instagram: @nilsglen (Nils Gulbranson’s primary platform)YouTube: Nils GlenLinkedIn: Connect with Nils Gulbranson (no direct link provided)Email: Nil's [lastname].[firstname]@gmailChurch Tech Today: www.churchtechtoday.com FrontDoor.church: 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.MinistryLink.com

    36 min

  8. 07/29/2025

    Reaching 1 Billion People For the Gospel Online with Justin Khoe & Kenny Jahng

    Episode Summary: In this episode, Kenny Jahng sits down with Justin Khoe, founder of the Digital Missionary Academy, to explore practical strategies for churches to amplify their impact using digital content. The conversation centers on how church leaders can leverage short-form video, automate outreach, and transition online engagement into real-life discipleship—all without needing a massive budget or media expertise. Listeners will discover actionable ways to move beyond livestreaming and Sunday uploads, empowering local ministries to connect with unreached people in their community and beyond. If you're a pastor wondering how to make digital ministry sustainable and effective, this episode is packed with encouragement and real-world ideas. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why short-form video outperforms long-form content for local church outreach and practical steps to get started How to use automation and simple digital tools to turn social media engagement into discipleship opportunities and in-person connections What it takes to build a robust church marketing campaign on just $5–$16 a day The power of personal, non-automated follow-up—even in an age of automation and AI Creative ways to fund digital advertising through congregation support and community vision casting Tips for repurposing sermon content into daily social media touchpoints, including tools and workflow suggestions Approaches to train staff and volunteers in digital ministry, even if leaders feel hesitant or skeptical Key Quotes: “Short-form content is powerful—when you partner it with automations, you can move people from discovery to next steps at scale.” — Justin Khoe “The simple idea of how the church serves today is an exciting value proposition in and of itself.” — Justin Khoe “500 bucks a month is not as much as you think. . . Can you find 3 people willing to donate $5 a day? There you have $500 a month to fuel a campaign and show results.” — Kenny Jahng “Churches have a unique value proposition in that we are flesh and blood, we actually care about you… That is the thing people are hungry for.” — Justin Khoe “If not digital outreach, then what are we doing? Are we really going about the Great Commission?” — Justin Khoe Links & Resources Mentioned: • Justin Khoe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkhoe • Digital Missionary Academy: [Search "Digital Missionary Academy" on YouTube] • Book: Empty Pews to a Million Views https://amzn.to/45jD2M1 • ChurchTechToday: https://churchtechtoday.com 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.

    42 min
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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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