Exponential NEXT Podcast

Exponential NEXT Podcast Episode 97

Series: Thinking Ahead: Pastors and AI

Title: Chad Williams, CEO of FiveQ agency, provides a comprehensive biblical framework for evaluating AI and technology in ministry. Drawing from Scripture, he traces technology through creation, fall, and redemption to help church leaders make wise decisions about emerging tools.

In this episode, Chad addresses the questions your congregation is already asking about AI. He explains why technology reflects God’s creative nature, how sin corrupts its purposes, and how redemption transforms even the most dangerous tools for kingdom impact.

You’ll learn four practical evaluation questions for any technology decision:

• Can I trust the source?

• Is it communicating truth or spreading lies?

• Does it amplify or replace human work?

• Am I creating or just consuming?

Chad demonstrates these principles across five ministry contexts: sermon preparation, administrative tasks, discipleship and pastoral care, outreach and communications, and volunteer training. Each example shows the “human sandwich approach” where human judgment bookends AI processing.

Whether you’re responding to concerned congregation members or evaluating AI tools for your team, you’ll gain theological grounding and practical wisdom for stewarding technology in ministry.

This episode is part of the Exponential AI NEXT podcast series. Learn more about how to get up to speed with AI for church at exponential.org/ai-next.



Guest:

Chad Williams, Five Q, CEO

Category: AI NEXT

Exponential NEXT Podcast Episode 96

Series: Thinking Ahead: Pastors and AI

Title: AI just removed the technology barrier that’s been killing your best ministry ideas.

You’ve had this idea for months. A better way to equip parents. A simple volunteer system. A tool that helps your people apply Scripture to daily life. You can see it clearly. You know it would work.

But then: “That would cost thousands.” “We’d need a developer.” Another God-given vision shelved.

Kenny Jahng shows pastors how churches are using AI to create custom ministry solutions by simply describing what they need. No programming. No developers. No massive budget. Just you, having a conversation with AI—and watching it build exactly what you need.

The prayer system your recovery ministry needs. The family discussion tool. The coordination system that fits YOUR church. AI builds it while you focus on ministry.

You’ll see concrete examples, get a simple roadmap, and discover how your pastoral instincts guide AI to serve your vision.

Use AI to build what your people actually need. You already know what’s needed. Now AI makes it possible.

This episode is part of the Exponential AI NEXT podcast series. Learn more about how to get up to speed with AI for church at exponential.org/ai-next.



Guest:

Kenny Jahng, AI NEXT, Director

Category: AI NEXT

Exponential NEXT Podcast Episode 95

Series: Thinking Ahead: Pastors and AI

Title: How to Get Started with Agentic AI for Your Church and Ministry

Natchi Lazarus breaks down agentic AI in plain language for church leaders who want practical solutions, not complicated tech jargon.

Discover how AI agents work 24/7 on your behalf—creating content, posting to social media, and tracking results while you focus on people. You’ll learn the four essential components of AI agent systems, when to use agents versus simple AI tools, and the SONG framework for implementation.

Get step-by-step guidance to deploy your first AI agents with no-code tools, understand multi-agent workflows, and set up proper guardrails. Whether you’re tech-savvy or a complete beginner, this episode shows you how to transform AI from a confusing buzzword into a practical tool that multiplies your ministry’s gospel impact without requiring coding skills or technical expertise.

This episode is part of the Exponential AI NEXT podcast series. Learn more about how to get up to speed with AI for church at exponential.org/ai-next.

Guest:

Natchi Lazarus – CC Academy, Founder/CEO

Category: AI NEXT

Exponential NEXT Podcast Episode 94

Series: Multiplying Healthy Multiethnic Churches

Title: Team Development in a Multiethnic Church Context

Unity matters in every church: but in a multiethnic church, cultivating a unified staff is both more challenging and more consequential. In this episode, we share transferable truths and practical insights to help leaders build effective, mission-aligned multiethnic teams.

Host:

Mark DeYmaz – Multiethnic Church NEXT, Director

Guests:

Nirup Alphonse – LIFEGATE Church, Lead Pastor

Lawrence Hicks – Mosaic Church, Executive Pastor

Paul Kroger – Vine & Village, Executive Director

Category: Multiethnic Church NEXT

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community

Exponential NEXT Podcast Episode 93

Series: Multiplying Healthy Multiethnic Churches

Title: Community Engagement: Beyond Rhetoric to Results

Pastors often say, “We’re going to take this city for Christ.” But have we ever actually seen that happen? And many churches claim to love their city—but does the city love the church back? In this episode, we’re joined by proven practitioners who share actionable insights for meeting real, empathetic needs in your community at the bridge of Christ’s humanity.

Host:

Mark DeYmaz – Multiethnic Church NEXT, Director

Guests:

Tommy “Urban D.” Kyllonen – Crossover Church, Lead Pastor

Melissa Mixon – CrossPurpose, VP of Legacy

Rodrigo Cruz – The United Methodist Church, Executive Assistant to the Bishop for the North Georgia Conference

Category: Multiethnic Church NEXT

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community

The Power of Asking ‘What If?’