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#137. Is AI a Ministry Tool— or a Theological Crisis?
Episode 1377th October 2025 • Our Urban Voices • Dr. Alfonse Javed
00:00:00 00:32:02

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Dr Todd Korpi, author of AI Goes to Church, unpacks one of the most significant technological advancements of our time—artificial intelligence—and what it means for the ministry. More than just another tech fad, AI presents both profound challenges and extraordinary opportunities for the church.

Dr Todd Korpi's Website

Dr Todd Korpi on IVPress

Book: AI Goes to Church

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

  • What is AI? What can it do and cannot do at the present time?
  • Do churches hesitate in using AI and technology?
  • How is AI technology currently used in the church?

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Todd Korpi (DMiss, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a pastor, missiologist, and church consultant. He is dean of digital ministry programs at Ascent College, assistant professor of Christian Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary, and works in several capacities at OneHope whose mission is to affect destiny by providing God’s Word to all the children and youth of the world. He also serves as the lead researcher of the Digital Mission Consortia, a collaborative research initiative exploring the frontier of digital ministry. Todd is the author of Your Daughters Shall Prophesy and The Life-Giving Spirit as well as his new book, AI Goes to Church.

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TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:40 - Introducing Dr Todd Korpi

03:29 - Science fiction shapes journey to technology

04:03 - ...science fiction conveys possibilities

06:27 - ...read our culture in the present moment by the popular culture

07:55 - Do churches hesitate in using AI and technology?

08:14 - ...global church & evangelism

10:20 - ...local church

11:04 - ...replacement by digital technology

15:48 - How is AI technology currently used in the church and other avenues for reaching people with the gospel?

17:36 - ...content curation and utilization

19:32 - ...translation

21:06 - ...automating the administrative, backend work

23:57 - What is AI? What can it do and cannot do at the present time?

25:15 - ...AI in the 1950's and the Turing test

25:48 - ...rapid development in the last 20 years

26:05 - ...Google, streaming service, social media, recommendations...

27:06 - ...generative AI

27:26 - ...theories on singularity event

28:24 - ...right now, AI is fundamentally a mirror

29:42 - ...cautious optimism

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