Fifteen years in church ministry, now at Woodlands Church. Most of my work these days is on the practical question of AI in the church: what's worth using, what's hype, and where it actually helps in operations, communications, and pastoral care.
The church is still the best vehicle for that mission. I write about how AI fits — and where it doesn't — in real ministry work.
Most teams are evaluating dozens of AI tools without a clear sense of which to trust. I work with leaders on what fits their data, voice, and culture, and what doesn't. The 40-60% reduction in manual work is usually a side effect of clarity, not the goal.
Most development teams are sitting on more signal than they realize. I work on donor journey design, automated stewardship, and behavioral analytics, less to chase new acquisition and more to deepen the relationships already in your database.
Most finance teams at mission-driven organizations spend more hours than they should on manual reconciliation, AP, and revenue tracking. I work on AI-assisted automation in those workflows so leadership and the board get answers in real time, with the same controls and audit trail.
Churches and nonprofits today serve people across multiple campuses, time zones, and screens. I help teams design digital discipleship platforms, virtual ministry experiences, and engagement systems that meet people where they actually are, without losing the human contact.
I speak with church and nonprofit leaders on integrating AI into mission-driven work, anchored in biblical truth and the timeless teaching of Jesus applied to life today: what's useful, what's overhyped, and what's worth asking before adopting new tech. Available for conferences, leadership retreats, board sessions, and staff workshops.
Book SpeakingRyan is an outlier. He is motivated to think strategically, ask the right questions, and be proactive. It's rare in his generation to find an individual who asks for more to do, understands service through leadership, and takes responsibility for the outcome. I highly recommend him.Todd Burns
If you're working through how AI fits into your mission, I'm always happy to think it through with you. No deck, no obligation, no funnel on the other end.