AI Wrote This Prayer

As pastors and ministers, we’ve all had those moments where we are put on the spot suddenly. We may be asked to pray, MC, or give our perspective on a scripture. We may even be asked to deliver a sermon. What happens when you are asked and unprepared? Is it okay to utilize AI to fill the gap? Let’s talk about it.

AI is a predictive technology that allows users to generate content on demand. The content is generated by choosing the most likely next phrase, character, or punctuation that the user would approve of. It is not producing the most God-led or Spirit-filled prayer or sermon, but it may give you exactly what you are looking to hear.

I asked my ChatGPT:
Write me a short Christian prayer for children in a Southern Baptist style.

ChatGPT said:

Dear Lord,
Thank You for this beautiful day and for loving us so much.
Help us to listen, learn, and show kindness to everyone we meet.
When we get things wrong, please forgive us and help us do better next time.
Fill our hearts with Your joy, our minds with Your truth,
and our lives with Your light.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.

Then I made this request:

Write me a short Christian prayer in the style of a contemporary evangelical church.

ChatGPT said:

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being here with us right now.
We invite Your Spirit to move in our hearts and remind us that You are good, faithful, and in control.
Help us to walk in love, speak with grace, and shine Your light wherever we go.
We trust You with today and everything ahead.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Two prayers. Two styles. No Spirit.

Spirit is something that can only be added by a human. The heart speaking may be expressed through the addition of personal conviction in words or actions. While AI is an effective tool, it is not a suitable replacement for being led by the Spirit of God, and frankly, it never will be.

One may argue that this is why someone might use AI, to provide a guide, a prayer framework, so to speak. But isn’t that already included in the Good Book in Matthew 6:9–13? What do we lose when we start to look outside of God’s Word for answers on how to minister to His people?

Another pitfall to be wary of is the fact that AI operates on an algorithm, feeding the user information it would find most pleasing. The goal of generative AI is not to produce truth or even to respond honestly, but to respond in a way that the user would find most acceptable. This is something we were most definitely warned about.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 tells us, “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” (NLT)

This begs the question: Is there a responsible way to utilize AI in ministry?

Yes. There are key components to utilizing AI in environments where people are influenced and deeply impacted by AI usage. Transparency, fairness, consent, and governance are all as valuable in the church as they are outside the church. The key is not to be so cautious that you miss the benefits, or so quick to adopt that you inherit risks.

I teach churches and ministry teams how and where to draw the line on AI involvement. There are processes to streamline and research, and it starts with understanding both how AI works and how God moves. Just like I tell my corporate clients, you start with values and end with process.

Are we in the time of chasing myths? Is this the kind of customizable gospel we were warned about? What are your thoughts?

For more information on establishing a customized AI plan for your church, contact me.

Essential Human Skills for the AI Era (and How to Teach Them)

AI tools are reshaping how we learn, create, and communicate but there’s one thing they can’t replace: essential human skills. As parents, educators, and leaders, it’s critical to prepare the next generation not just to use AI, but to thrive alongside it with discernment, responsibility, and emotional intelligence.

Here are four foundational skills every child (and adult) needs to develop in the AI era, and how you can begin teaching them today.

1. Fact-Checking in the Age of AI

With AI-generated content spreading across platforms, learning how to verify information is non-negotiable. From text to images, generative tools can produce highly realistic—but false—content. This is called hallucinations and while they are not malicious intent, they can be misleading and result in harmful behavior. These stats show the need for media literacy.

  • A recent study showed that 72% of Americans believe media literacy is crucial for countering disinformation.
  • Targeted training improves people’s ability to spot false news, with 73.3% successfully identifying fake content and pledging not to share it.
  • However, when AI fact-checkers are used without context, they can reduce trust—even when correct—highlighting the importance of human judgment.

How to teach it:
Play the “Real or Fake” game using a mix of AI-generated and human-created headlines, images, or stories. Teach learners how to cross-reference multiple sources, check the author’s credentials, and identify signs of trustworthy information. Ask: Who made this? Why? And what do other sources say?

2. Creating Family AI Usage Guidelines

Not all tasks are created equal and not all tasks should be handed over to AI. That’s why it’s important to establish boundaries around how and when AI can be used in your home or classroom. Here are two important things to note:

  • The U.S. Department of Education encourages keeping a “human in the loop”—ensuring AI supports, but doesn’t replace, human oversight. This document lays out the importance and benefits of having human oversight of AI particularly in education.
  • While the number of qualified teachers in the United States declining teachers often look for ways to maximize time and resources. Teachers who regularly use AI tools reclaim an average of 5.9 hours per week, giving them time back to focus on what matters most however, any material generated must be thoroughly checked for accuracy.

How to teach it:
Draft a family or class AI usage agreement. Define which tasks are “human only” (like doing homework, emotional conversations, or storytelling), “human-led with AI support” (like brainstorming or editing), and “AI-led with human review” (like generating images or content outlines). This empowers children to build a healthy relationship with AI as a tool and not as a crutch.

3. Privacy Literacy in a Digital World

With kids using AI tools in school and at home, privacy education must go beyond “don’t post your address online.” 70% of high school students report using AI. Use is both educational and recreational as they discover fun ways to utilize the technology.

A report from Walton Family Foundation reports only 28% say their school clearly allows the student use of AI. Nearly half say there’s no policy or they’re unsure. With the gap between the number of students using AI and the number of schools with active guidance around the technology the need for governance and safety education is clear.

How to teach it:
Use three buckets:

  • Always private: Full name, home address, phone number, passwords, biometrics.
  • Sometimes private: School ID numbers, test answers, schedules.
  • Not private: Favorite colors, character names, hobbies.

Have regular check-ins on what’s safe to share, and model how to adjust privacy settings and ask questions when something feels off.

4. Using AI Effectively and Ethically

AI isn’t just for chatbots it can now build websites, create custom apps, generate illustrations, and even mimic voice and video. But with this power comes responsibility. Here are some statistics on the use and impact of AI tools on students.

  • While 25% of teachers say AI tools do more harm than good, another 32% believe the benefits and drawbacks are equal—indicating a need for better training and boundaries.
  • 63% of teachers reported students getting in trouble for using AI to cheat, showing that without guidance, misuse is likely.
  • Research shows that increasing students’ media literacy (understanding how content is created and shared) is more effective for AI acceptance than technical knowledge alone.

How to teach it:
Explore hands-on projects like creating a custom GPT chatbot to answer common questions or designing a website using AI tools—with clear expectations around human review. Pair this with conversations about ethics, ownership, and integrity.

Here’s the Thing…

AI is here to stay, but it doesn’t have to replace our human strengths. By teaching fact-checking, setting clear boundaries, protecting privacy, and developing ethical AI use habits, we equip the next generation to lead with wisdom, not just code.

Navigating AI in Church Ministry: Balancing Technology and Spiritual Growth

There’s a growing conversation in ministry circles about whether AI belongs in the church. Yet, American churches already use a lot of technology. We dim the lights during worship and brighten them during the sermon to guide the room’s atmosphere. We use vocal and instrumental tracks to support musicians, helping the worship portion feel more professional and accessible for guests and members. This removes spontaneity and relieves pressure from vocalists and bands, as the tracks can fill in any missing parts.

We project lyrics onto screens instead of using hymnals, making it easier for congregants to sing along and keeping the music contemporary. QR codes provide quick access to sermon notes and digital check-ins for children’s ministry, improving convenience for families and guests alike.

In short, the church is no stranger to technology. We understand the cost, and we’re willing to pay it. But with the rise of generative AI, I find myself wondering: Are we using this tool in ways that truly draw people closer to Christ?

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The Hidden Costs of AI

I recently listened to a podcast about worship leaders and their use of AI, and a few points really stood out to me.

First, not understanding how AI works makes it harder to recognize the less obvious costs of using it.

AI doesn’t create like a human. It’s not a search engine. AI is a pattern-recognition algorithm trained on large datasets, user input, and external information. It generates responses based on what most closely aligns with your previous behavior, not necessarily what is most accurate or most helpful.

Take this example: a sermon written with implicit bias, then uploaded to a generative AI tool. That AI registers the content as appropriate because it reflects the user’s preferences. By contrast, when we spend time in God’s presence, we’re convicted by His Word. Bias is revealed, and hearts are transformed.

I can’t help but think of 1 Timothy 4:1–5, where Paul warns Timothy that a time will come when people “will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires.” AI is designed to give us more of what we already want. Paul continues, “They will turn their ears away from truth and be turned aside to fables.”

There’s already ongoing litigation about AI’s hallucinations and errors. These fables so to speak, are easier to believe when you do not understand how they are created. We accept the risks of technology for the sake of convenience. But do we also recognize the spiritual risk?

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Seeking God vs. Seeking Shortcuts

This isn’t coming from a place of fear. I use AI daily in my professional work and teach others how to use it in creative and innovative ways. Like fire, AI can be powerful when handled with care and understanding.

But there’s a real risk in replacing God’s instruction with AI-driven direction.

In the same podcast, a minister shared how he feeds his sermon topics into AI and asks it to generate relevant scriptures. He mentioned that instead of spending nine hours studying the Word, AI could do the work in seconds.

This raises two issues. First, proof-texting—the practice of pulling verses out of context to support a predetermined idea. When you input a sermon into AI and ask it to suggest scriptures, it may (or may not) return verses that are theologically and contextually sound.

Second, and more importantly, is the issue of spiritual growth. When we bypass time in God’s presence in favor of quicker results, we miss what He may want to reveal. Maybe there was a scripture He intended to speak directly to your personal circumstances. Maybe the process of studying was the very moment He wanted to meet with you.

When we outsource the sacred work of communion with God, our spiritual growth suffers.

David understood this. In Psalm 119:162–163 (NLT), he writes:

“I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure. I hate and abhor all falsehood, but I love your instructions.”

One of the beauties of spending time in God’s word is discovering the treasures that feel like they are just for you.

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Using AI Wisely

I hate to raise an issue without some helpful resolution. There are many helpful and thoughtful ways to use AI in ministry.

• It can assist with troubleshooting tech like soundboards or projection systems. Save your team energy and money by downloading product manuals to a customized church GPT, then asking it to act as tech support when you run into challenges.

• It can organize or adapt sermon notes for different audiences: youth, children, or non-native speakers. No need to have someone spend time and energy altering your sermon notes to make them more digestible to the various groups at your church AI can do that.

• It can highlight patterns or gaps in data, helping us improve how we serve. While you never want to put sensitive information like church financials or a member roster into your generative AI, you can put in things like attendance numbers, small group engagement, church inventory, and more to find patterns you may otherwise miss. The aggregated data can support the church’s efforts in everything from event planning to social media messaging.

Even in the utilization of this tool in an ethical and safe way, we must continue to be discerning. Efficiency is not always the goal. If the information you are getting from AI is what you would usually seek in God’s presence, then it shouldn’t be outsourced. If we prioritize speed and output in the sacred areas where we should be seeking God, we risk turning AI into an idol.

Let’s use the tool, but not forget The Source.

LeeAnah James is a ministry leader, author, speaker, certified AI trainer, and emotional intelligence expert. She travels across the country teaching parents, educators, and ministry leaders how to use technology wisely, lead with emotional intelligence, and educate children in ways that honor both their calling and their capacity. Whether you’re a church exploring AI training, a homeschool parent navigating curriculum choices, or a leader seeking clarity in a noisy world, she’s here to equip you with tools that work in real life.

Contact LeeAnah James

Resolving Conflict with My Boss

“What is the emotionally intelligent way to handle conflict with a superior at work?”

This is one of the most common questions I get asked during training and interviews. Employees are afraid of retaliation, in the form of poor performance reviews, getting fired, or even being blacklisted in their fields. However. it is important to consider the alternative to not addressing the issue right away. The anxiety of working with what feels like an aggressive superior in an unwelcoming environment can lead to poor performance, getting fired, or even getting blacklisted in one’s field. So here are some things to consider when using emotional intelligence.

Being emotionally intelligent does not mean you lack emotion; it means you can express your emotion in a way that is appropriate for the situation. A key component of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. Self-awareness is the ability to accurately name one’s emotions. Before meeting with your supervisor or manager get clear on how you feel and why. Be sure to ask yourself the four questions.

What’s the standard? Personally, what do you need to do to remain in integrity with who you are? Map out what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior from you. No matter the outcome you must live with yourself so respond in a way you can be proud of. Also, keep in mind that your company likely has a policy to handle workplace conflict. Get familiar with it before you decide on your next steps.

Respond to the conflict with the end goal in mind. What does resolution look like for you? How can both parties win? Examining your motivation before discussing an issue with your manager can help you clearly articulate your desired outcome and increase the probability of that occurring.

Lastly, consider the relationships involved. How is this conflict impacting your performance (your relationship with the company)? Your relationship with your team? Your supervisor’s relationship with the company?  I have learned that sometimes it really isn’t personal. At times supervisors can respond out of their own stress, and frustration. Being empathetic can help you understand their perspective while also addressing the issue clearly and defining your boundaries.

You’ve done the work on yourself and have decided to move forward in confronting your boss. Here are my tips regarding that.

Create a paper trail. Send the invite. Let them know you would like to discuss how you can work together to improve your working relationship. The one who addresses the problem is the leader in solving the problem.

Define the problem clearly. Use examples. Use “I statements” instead of “you statements.” Ask questions. Don’t make assumptions.

Follow-Up via email. A quick thank you with a brief summary will allow you to complete the paper trail on the issue.

Confrontation can be scary and overwhelming at times. Please keep in mind there are times when our perceived issues with management may be a simple misunderstanding. If you can’t resolve the conflict, consider moving on to a different role or company, no one should have to work in a work environment that is harmful to their mental well-being.

Emotional Intelligence and Customer Success

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a valuable skill that is noted as a requirement of an excellent Customer Success Manager. It’s more than tough skin and can be the difference between a major client renewing their services or parting ways. So let’s get into it.

It’s important to understand your role. At times you may operate as a customer advocate, a liaison, a sales professional, a problem solver or even tech-support. When you are able to quickly identify who you are in the conversation with your client, you are able to respond in the most appropriate and effective way.

For example,

A client calls upset that certain features aren’t working on their account. You look and find they have the basic level package and have not logged in to use it this quarter. They need these features to roll out a new division of their company.

What is your role? How do you help?

Your role is sales associate. You congratulate your client on their growth, point out how the features they are looking for will support their roll out and enroll them in the package that will meet their needs.

Connect quickly. Strong connections lead to lasting relationships. Use EI to recognize and understand the energy level at which the client communicates and match that. This will require you to be attentive and curious. Entering the conversation with too much energy may be overwhelming to the client, too little energy may make the client feel like their urgent needs aren’t urgent, to you. Be aware and regulate quickly to build connection. It also helps to connect around like interests. Your immediate and obvious common interest is their success. Let them know you are personally invested in seeing them succeed.

Be personal but don’t take it personally. Sometimes we get to diffuse situations. When emotions are high it helps to remember that the anger coming across is not towards you but towards the problem. Immediately position yourself as a teammate rather than an adversary by acknowledging their feelings, committing to helping them solve the problem and slowly lower the tension by steadying your speech and giving clear answers.

Try this script, “I understand you’re frustrated. You expected ….. and got ….. Did I get that right? I’m aware of the issue now and I am going to do everything I can to get to this resolved. Let’s start with (go into next steps based on the role you need to be in and the problem you get to solve)”

According to Dr. Daniel Goldman emotional intelligence is a person’s ability to manage their feelings so that those feelings are expressed appropriately and effectively. Appropriately expressing one’s emotions effectively in a customer success management roles hinge on understanding the clients needs, so stay curious friends!