How some Indiana churches are using AI
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A new digital awakening is unfolding in some churches, where pastors and prayer apps are using artificial intelligence to reach worshippers.
Why it matters: Some churches say AI is helping them stay relevant in the face of shrinking staff, empty pews and growing online audiences.
- But the practice raises new questions about who, or what, is guiding the flock.
State of play: Religious institutions' experimentation with AI comes at a time when the U.S. could see an unprecedented 15,000 churches shut their doors this year as a record number of Americans (29%) now identify as religiously unaffiliated.
- Indiana's share of religiously unaffiliated has risen from 16% in 2007 to 31% last year.
- Researchers say the trend is driven in large part by Gen Z and younger millennials.
The big picture: Many places of worship are using AI in mundane ways — deploying chatbots to answer frequently asked questions such as service times and event details, or feeding congregation attendance data into AI software to help them tailor outreach and communications.
Zoom in: Sermon Shots is a service with Hoosier roots that uses AI to quickly turn sermons into shareable video clips.
- Founded by New Palestine resident Corey Alderin in early 2022, Sermon Shots has more than 9,000 clients served by a remote staff of 25 employees.
- The service has at least 50 Indiana clients, including Alderin's church, Realife.
- He got the idea after speaking with pastors interested in turning to technology to compete with larger churches with the staff and budget to maintain active social media accounts.
What he's saying: Alderin told Axios that Sermon Shots does not use AI to write sermons and is not intended to replace ministry.
- "I think the church is in this really great, unique opportunity to leverage AI in a good way. Which is, you're already developing this great piece of content every week," he said. "Whether a church calls it that or not, this sermon on Sunday is a well developed, well crafted, well thought out piece of content. Why not leverage that to make all this other content?"
Between the lines: Beyond leveraging the tech, local congregations are engaging AI through educational events and community discussions.
- Indy's New Circle Church tackled the topic in October during an episode of their Midway Musings Podcast titled "Is AI The Devil?"
- e2: effective elders, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that provides coaching for church leaders, held an event last month exploring how church leaders can think theologically and practically about generative AI.
- In February, Traders Point Christian Church Northwest will host a faith leaders roundtable organized by Care to Change focused on the impact of AI on spirituality.
Yes, but: The AI uses getting the most attention (and scrutiny) are those that create the feeling that users are talking to a divine power or clergy member.
- The Text With Jesus app allows users to "embark on a spiritual journey and engage in enlightening conversations with Jesus Christ," according to the app's website.
- The app also gives users the option to "talk" with other biblical characters, including Mary, Joseph, Judas Iscariot and even Satan.
- Catholic apps One Day Confess and Confession - Catholic help users with confession and spiritual reflection, providing AI-guided responses based on biblical texts.
- While taking part in a live telecast Q&A during the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis last month, Pope Leo XIV cautioned Hoosier teens to use AI responsibly, saying, "Be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth."