Digital Parish: Using A.I. to become a digital ministry content machine

Ryan Dunn: Welcome to "Pastoring in the Digital Parish," your resource and point of connection for bringing your congregation into the digital age and leveling up your digital ministry toolkit. I'm Ryan Dunn, your host and proctor for this digital ministry class that you missed in seminary. Today, we're going to explore how to utilize artificial intelligence to transform your sermons into a content machine. But before we dive in, let's set the stage.

Ryan Dunn: Most of our listeners are solo pastors with limited time for extra tasks, like building tons of new content for your church's digital presence. However, we all know that content is key in digital ministry. The more content you have, the more opportunities you have to be present with people. That's why we're going to focus on maximizing the impact of your single most important piece of content: the sermon.

Before we get underway with some specific action steps to becoming a machine-fuled content machine, This session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish is presented by:

Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures.

To learn more go to Safer Sanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433.

So, let's get started. Here's what you'll need:

• A recording of your Sunday sermon.

• A transcription service. If you're a manuscript preacher, you're already done!

• A video editor.

• Maybe an audio editor or a digital audio workstation (DAW).

• An AI chatbot, like ChatGPT.

The first step is to upload your sermon to a transcription service. There are several AI-enabled transcription services available, such as Descript, Reduct, and TypeStudio. These platforms go beyond basic transcription and provide suggestions for further content based on your sermon. Personally, I use CastMagic, which provides me with suggested titles, keywords, an introduction that I can use for our sermon podcast, a timestamped overview, and even discussion questions or Q&A prompts.

For example, let's say your sermon touches on compassion. CastMagic might suggest a discussion question like, "Reflecting on your own life, can you recall a time when someone showed you compassion in a difficult moment?" or "After listening to this sermon, how has your perspective on the teachings of Jesus been influenced by the speaker's appreciation for compassion?"

Additionally, CastMagic supplies key topics and bullets, a reel script, a newsletter write-up, and even a tweet thread. This opens up a whole world of possibilities for content creation. You can use the discussion questions as social media posts or turn them into a blog post. The clip finder feature helps you find compelling quotes, hooks, and timestamps that you can turn into video highlights for platforms like Reels, Shorts, or TikTok.

Speaking of video content, the AI-generated timestamped ideas for shorter video clips can be a great starting point. If you don't have access to CastMagic or a similar platform, you can even use ChatGPT to help you find recommended excerpts for video content. Simply prompt ChatGPT with a request like, "I need recommended excerpts from the following sermon that would make for good Instagram Reels," and paste in your sermon text. You'll receive recommendations along with helpful tips like pairing the excerpts with engaging visuals and captions that reflect the message of collaboration, community, and embodying Christ's love.

Once you have your clips, you can use a video editor like iMovie to cut and customize them. Exporting them in a vertical format suitable for platforms like Reels or TikTok requires a little trickery. You need to create an App Preview file instead of a normal movie file and insert a vertical video file as the first clip, even if it's just a placeholder. Then, you can insert and clip your horizontally shot footage, delete the initial vertical file, and play around with cropping and zooming for more dynamic visuals.

Now, let's shift our focus to the sermon podcast. A sermon podcast is one of the most accessible forms of podcasts for most churches, and with AI, you can tailor each episode around your sermon's theme. For our church podcast, I created an audio "donut" with a standardized introduction and concluding section. In the introduction, I leave space for specialized content related to that particular sermon. I provide information about our church, introduce the speaker and the text, and include a teaser for the sermon, often taken from the AI-suggested discussion questions.

You can even use ChatGPT to generate a podcast introduction and closing for your sermon. Simply paste in your sermon text and use a prompt like, "I need a podcast introduction and closing for the following sermon." ChatGPT will provide a draft that you can edit and personalize for your voice. Don't forget to double-check the accuracy of any quotes or information provided by AI.

A podcast is an incredible tool for expanding your digital presence. It can be distributed on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, giving you access to a broader audience. Your podcast episodes can also live on your website, providing additional content and filling out your online presence. You can share the website link across social media platforms, like Threads and Facebook, further amplifying your content's reach.

But don't stop there. Your podcast can be repurposed into a short blog post by focusing on a specific talk point from your sermon or an AI-generated discussion question. Don't worry about writing a whole blog post from scratch. Use AI to generate a topic and outline, then feed that outline to your AI bot, such as ChatGPT, and request a 500-word blog post. This saves you time and ensures consistency in your content creation process.

Remember, AI can help you with further discussion questions as well. These questions can become bite-sized social media content. You can answer a question in the form of a Reel or TikTok video, or post it in your ministry's Facebook group or Discord server to encourage engagement and interaction with your congregation.

I’m going to jump in here with a reminder that this season of Pastoring in the Digital Parish is being sponsored by another tool that came make your life significantly easier:

Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on the trusted policies and procedures that have guided churches over the past twenty-five years. This resource contains theological grounding for the work of abuse prevention, psychological insights about abuse and abuse prevention, basic guidelines for risk reduction, age-level specific guidance, and step-by-step instructions on how to develop, revise, update, and implement an abuse prevention plan in your church or organization. 

For Christians, resisting evil and doing justice are ways that we live and serve Jesus Christ. Safer Sanctuaries provides helps to do just that by framing this work as a life-giving, community enhancing, and proactive endeavor.  It enables communities to be empowered and flourish as they develop and implement policies and procedures that make everyone safer.

To learn more go to Safer Sanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433.

Check them out and build a little more care and safety into your community.

Alright, let’s get back to the machines…

Now, I wanted ChatGPT to fill in some cracks that I left in my outline. It didn’t do a whole lot of that. It really just took my sentence fragments and turned them into full sentence. Which is useful, for sure. But I wanted to see if I could added content here. So asked it what it might add to this episode.

Here is the chat response:
Ryan Dunn: Before we wrap up this episode, let's explore a few more ways you can maximize the use of artificial intelligence in your digital ministry.

One powerful application of AI is in generating social media content. You can use AI chatbots like ChatGPT to generate engaging captions, quotes, or even full posts for platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Simply provide the bot with a prompt such as, "I need captivating captions for my sermon clips," and let it work its magic. Remember to review and personalize the generated content to align it with your voice and message.

AI can also be used for creating visually appealing graphics and images. Tools like Canva or Adobe Spark utilize AI algorithms to suggest templates, layouts, and design elements that match your brand or sermon theme. With a few clicks, you can have professional-looking graphics to accompany your social media posts, blog articles, or sermon presentations.

Another exciting possibility is using AI to enhance your live streaming or virtual worship experiences. AI-powered chatbots can assist in managing live chat interactions, answering common questions, and even providing real-time translations for multilingual congregations. This not only streamlines the experience for your viewers but also helps foster a sense of community and engagement.

As AI technology continues to advance, there may be even more innovative ways to incorporate it into your digital ministry. From voice-activated assistants to virtual reality experiences, the possibilities are vast. Keep exploring and experimenting with new tools and techniques to stay at the forefront of digital ministry.

Remember, while AI can be a valuable tool, it's important to use it ethically and responsibly. Always double-check the information provided by AI and ensure its accuracy before sharing it with your congregation or online community.

NOW, the chatbots features piqued by interest. Probably just because I don’t have any experience with administering them. Of course I’ve interfaced with them. But I hadn’t really considered their utility for ministry much. So I plied ChatGPT with more questions about chatbots–specifically, what chatbots might be useful for churches. Here’s the response:

AI-powered chatbots have become increasingly popular tools for churches to enhance their digital presence and engage with their congregations. These chatbots utilize artificial intelligence algorithms to provide automated responses, answer questions, and assist with various tasks. Here are a few examples of chatbots available for churches:

ChatGPT: ChatGPT, the technology powering my responses, is a versatile chatbot developed by OpenAI. It can be trained and customized to interact with users in a conversational manner. Churches can use ChatGPT to provide automated responses on their websites, social media platforms, or even through messaging apps.

ManyChat: ManyChat is a popular chatbot platform that enables churches to build interactive chatbots for Facebook Messenger. It offers a visual interface for creating chat flows, automating responses, and integrating with other services. ManyChat allows churches to provide instant support, deliver personalized messages, and engage with their community on Facebook.

MobileCause: MobileCause is a comprehensive platform for churches that includes a chatbot feature. Their chatbot can be integrated into church websites or social media platforms and provides automated responses to common queries. It can also assist with event registration, donation processing, and volunteer sign-ups.

Church Online Platform: Some churches utilize chatbots within their Church Online Platform, which is a dedicated platform for hosting online services and engaging with virtual congregations. These chatbots can help guide users through the online experience, answer questions about service times, provide links to resources, and facilitate connections within the community.

Faithlife Assistant: Faithlife, a platform that offers various tools for churches, has introduced the Faithlife Assistant chatbot. This chatbot is designed to assist users on the Faithlife platform by answering questions, providing biblical references, and offering suggestions for study materials or resources.

It's important to note that while these chatbots provide automated assistance, they are not meant to replace human interaction and pastoral care. They serve as helpful tools to streamline communication and provide instant responses, but personal connections and pastoral presence should always be a priority in church ministry.

When implementing a chatbot, it's essential to define its purpose, train it with accurate information, and regularly monitor and update its responses to ensure it aligns with the church's values and mission.

That’s going to put a wrap on this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish…

We've covered a lot of ground today, but there are bound to be more possibilities for leveraging artificial intelligence in your digital ministry. I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Join our Pastoring in the Digital Parish Facebook group or reach out to me directly at digitalparish@umcom.org.

Some good follow up episodes include my first interaction with the beta version of ChatGPT back in March of 2022. That episode is called “Artificial intelligence uses for digital ministry.”

I probably should, again, mention my episode from a few months ago called “5 steps for starting a church podcast”.

And, I think our conversation with Shane Russo is a worthwhile follow-up, too. That episode is titled “Doing digital ministry when resources are scarce.”

Again, I’m Ryan Dunn. I’d like to thank ResourceUMC.org,  the online destination for leaders throughout The United Methodist Church. They make this podcast possible. And of course, they host our website: pastoringinthedigitalparish.com, where you can find more online resources for ministry.

Also want to thank Safer Sanctuaries for the support: 

Again, Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures. This resource contains theological grounding for the work of abuse prevention, basic guidelines for risk reduction, age-level specific guidance, and step-by-step instructions on how to develop, revise, update, and implement an abuse prevention plan.

If you want to connect with the Pastoring in the Digital Parish community: check out our Pastoring in the Digital Parish group on Facebook. You can also send me questions and ideas for future sessions at digitalparish@umcom.org.

Another session comes next week. In the meantime: Peace!