Pastor Keion Henderson of Houston’s Lighthouse Church is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance church operations, church leadership, sermon preparation, and outreach. As churches explore new ways to integrate technology, Henderson sees AI as a tool to support—not replace—traditional ministry efforts.
One of his primary uses of AI is for brainstorming sermon titles and themes. For example, while preparing for a rodeo-themed Bible study, he used ChatGPT to generate the title “The Road to the Resurrection.” While AI provided inspiration, Henderson ensured the theological accuracy by cross-referencing biblical texts.
Beyond sermon preparation, Lighthouse Church utilizes AI tools to automate administrative tasks, register attendees for church events, and enhance communication. AI chatbots assist with event sign-ups, while platforms like ManyChat streamline data collection. During the church’s Not Your Typical event, AI played a role in promoting the gathering, helping engage a 20,000-member congregation and a global online audience.
Henderson is not alone in leveraging AI for ministry. Other faith leaders, including Austin’s Pastor Jay Cooper and Houston’s Rabbi Josh Fixler, have also experimented with AI-generated sermons. Some pastors express caution, emphasizing the need for ethical oversight to prevent misinformation and avoid over-reliance on technology. AI “hallucinations,” or incorrect outputs, remain a concern, requiring clergy to verify content before using it in their messages.
Henderson acknowledges these risks but believes AI should be embraced for its benefits. His upcoming Cry Out Conference will feature an “AI—All In” theme, underscoring how technology can enhance personal, spiritual, and financial growth within the faith community. He compares AI adoption to the historical resistance churches once had toward musical instruments like pianos and drums—technologies that are now standard in worship services.
Despite AI’s growing role, Henderson maintains that faith remains central. “We use it and leverage it for what it’s good for, but we don’t let it replace what I think is the most important thing that a human has, which is his heart—and technology can’t replace that.”
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