In a time when technology seems to be advancing faster than we can keep up, many in ministry are asking the same question: “How can we use AI in a way that helps us stay human, stay faithful, and stay connected?” It turns out the answer is not to go it alone—but to go together.
The key isn’t just using AI tools. It’s using them together, with others. In ministry work—just like in life—we’re stronger when we collaborate. And when it comes to AI, pairing up with someone who’s learning alongside you can make all the difference.
Why Collaboration Matters in a Digital Age
Studies show that teams using AI tools are up to 67% more productive and 40% more accurate. But here’s the part those numbers don’t tell you: the most successful teams don’t just rely on the tech—they rely on each other.
Whether you’re repurposing a Sunday sermon into a blog, writing content for a church event, or creating discussion questions for a small group, AI can help with research, summarizing, editing, and generating ideas. But it’s your team—the people who know your context, your mission, and your community—who bring meaning and heart to the final product.
That’s where human collaboration shines. When one person feeds in the sermon transcript, another crafts a blog post, and someone else writes discussion questions, you’re not just “using AI.” You’re doing ministry together, with AI as a helpful assistant—not a replacement.
Introducing the AI Buddy
One of the most helpful approaches we’ve seen is the idea of an AI Buddy. An AI Buddy isn’t another app—it’s a person.
AI Buddies work together to explore how to best use AI in their ministry roles. They test things out, ask each other questions, troubleshoot challenges, and help each other grow. This kind of partnership provides two big benefits:
- Shared Learning – You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. AI Buddies can swap ideas, share tools they’ve discovered, and help each other improve.
- Fresh Perspective – Your buddy might see possibilities you missed. Maybe they use AI for sermon brainstorming, while you’ve only used it for social posts. Sharing use cases opens new doors.
As Scripture says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). That wisdom applies here too. Learning AI is easier—and more fun—with a friend.
What Can AI Help You Do in Ministry?
Here are just a few ways ministry teams are already putting AI to use:
- Sunday sermons: Feed in a transcript and turn it into a blog post, small group questions, relevant illustrations for youth and activities for children, or social media posts.
- Church communications: Summarize past event descriptions, rephrase them, and create new promotional content.
- Creative activities: Generate coloring pages for kids, translate materials into other languages, or even write a new recipe for the church potluck!
And the best part? It doesn’t take a tech background to start. With the right tools and a little coaching from your AI Buddy, you can be up and running quickly.
Keep It Ethical, Keep It Real
While AI can be a great helper, it’s important to use it wisely. Always verify content, credit sources properly, and protect people’s privacy. And above all, remember that AI is a tool—not a replacement for the spiritual wisdom, empathy, and creativity that comes from the people on your team.
As Dr. Fei-Fei Li put it, “There’s nothing artificial about AI. It is inspired by people, created by people, and—most importantly—it impacts people.”
Want to Go Further?
If you’re ready to collaborate more deeply and build on shared AI conversations, a great tool to check out is BoodleBox. It’s a multi-model platform designed to help teams work together on AI-powered projects. And as a partner of ours, they’re offering a free first month with the promo code ACST FREE.
Want to see it in action? You can watch a recording of a webinar we hosted to learn how churches and ministries are using BoodleBox to collaborate, create, and connect – complete with live demos!
Trace Jackson
Trace Jackson has over 18 years of experience working with churches, beginning her professional journey in 2006 after years of dedicated volunteer service. As the Innovation Project Manager, Trace “keeps the wheels on the Innovation Team,” ensuring that groundbreaking ideas transform into practical solutions for faith communities.
