Ministry doesn’t pause between Sundays. The weekly rhythm of pastoral work—administration, communication, visitation, preparation, and coordination—can either energize or exhaust. AI tools, thoughtfully integrated into weekly workflows, can reduce administrative burden while enhancing ministry effectiveness. Here’s a practical guide to using AI throughout your ministry week, creating sustainable rhythms that serve both congregation and pastor. […]
Next month, we’ll experience the annual ritual of “falling back.” Daylight Saving Time ends, and many of us will wake up feeling like we’ve been gifted an extra hour. Some of you may already be planning how to spend this bonus time—extra sleep, catching up on projects, maybe just enjoying a longer Sunday morning coffee. […]
Wesley identified the means of grace as channels through which God conveys preventing, justifying, and sanctifying grace to believers. These ordinary practices—prayer, Scripture study, communion, fasting, and Christian conferencing—become extraordinary when met with faith. As ministry increasingly includes digital dimensions, we must thoughtfully consider how technology can facilitate access to these means of grace while […]
The class meeting—Wesley’s genius innovation for spiritual formation—remains one of Methodism’s greatest gifts to Christian discipleship. These small groups of twelve people meeting weekly for mutual accountability transformed individual believers into a movement that changed the world. Today, AI and digital tools can enhance this proven model while preserving its essential relational character. Here’s how […]
Have you ever missed an important phone call because you didn’t recognize the number? You let it go to voicemail, only to discover later it was exactly the opportunity you’d been hoping for. We live surrounded by notifications, yet often miss the most important messages – especially when God is calling. Here’s what I’ve learned […]
Deep engagement with Scripture remains the foundation of Wesleyan ministry. AI tools can enhance biblical study by providing linguistic insights, historical context, and interpretive perspectives that might take hours to research manually. However, these tools supplement rather than replace the Spirit-guided work of interpretation. Here’s how to use AI effectively for biblical study while maintaining […]
Monday morning arrives with the familiar question: what will I preach next Sunday? For many pastors, sermon preparation consumes 10-20 hours weekly—time that could also serve pastoral care, administration, and family. AI doesn’t replace the spiritual work of sermon preparation, but it can streamline the mechanical aspects, freeing you for deeper engagement with Scripture and […]
Many of us have mastered the art of the uncomfortable church nap. You know the one – where you’re trying to stay respectfully upright while your eyelids wage war against consciousness. Maybe it happens during the pastoral prayer, or when someone is explaining a financial report. Your head starts that telltale bob, and you jerk […]
Knowing how to communicate with AI—what technologists call “prompt engineering”—is becoming an essential ministry skill. Just as learning to use email or social media expanded our ministry reach, mastering AI prompting multiplies our effectiveness. The good news is that this isn’t about complex programming but about clear communication, something pastors already excel at. Think of […]
Taking the first steps with AI doesn’t require a large budget or technical expertise. Today’s free AI tools offer powerful capabilities that can immediately enhance ministry effectiveness. The key is starting with low-stakes experimentation to build confidence and understanding before moving to more critical applications. This practical guide will help you begin your AI journey […]
September in Kansas brings its annual comedy show—watching neighbors simultaneously run their air conditioners and heaters on the same day. Maybe you’ve overheard someone say, “I wore shorts this morning and needed a jacket by lunch!” This weather whiplash mirrors something deeper in our lives. We constantly adjust, trying to control our comfort and security. […]
Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection—understood not as sinless perfection but as being perfected in love—provides the ultimate standard for evaluating any ministry tool or method. When it comes to artificial intelligence, this distinctive Wesleyan teaching offers both a goal and a measurement: does this technology help people grow in perfect love for God and neighbor? […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 