REACHRIGHT Podcast

Most church marketing teams are working hard and getting almost nothing back for it. In this episode Thomas and Shiloh apply the 80/20 principle directly to church marketing and get specific about what to stop, what to keep, and what the handful of high-leverage moves actually look like for churches in 2026. From the death of organic social reach to the untapped power of Google Business Profiles, weekly email, and authentic short-form video, this episode gives church leaders a clear and honest framework for cutting the busywork and investing in the things that actually drive first-time visits, real engagement, and sustainable growth. The closing question alone is worth the listen.

A third of practicing Christians now trust spiritual advice from AI just as much as advice from their pastor. For Gen Z and millennials that number is closer to 40%. Four in ten Christians say AI has already helped them with prayer, Bible study, or spiritual growth. This is not a future trend to prepare for. It is a present reality happening inside your congregation right now. In this episode Thomas and Shiloh unpack the Barna data, dig into why people are choosing a chatbot over their pastor, identify what AI gets dangerously wrong in spiritual conversations, and give church leaders specific and practical steps they can take this week to close the trust and access gap before it gets any wider. This is not an episode about demonizing technology. It is about the church waking up to an opportunity it cannot afford to keep ignoring.

Most churches are spread across every social media platform imaginable and doing none of them well. In this episode Thomas and Shiloh go platform by platform and have the honest conversation most church leaders have never had about where churches should actually be spending their time and energy online. From Facebook and Instagram to YouTube, TikTok, X, and even LinkedIn, every major platform gets evaluated through one simple filter: who is on it, can churches realistically reach new people there, and is the effort actually worth the return. This is a practical and direct episode that will help any church leader stop feeling guilty about every platform they are not on and start doing the right ones really well.

The way people find a new church is changing fast. It used to be all about word of mouth, road signs, or searching “church near me” on Google. But in 2026, the landscape looks different. Artificial intelligence is playing a major role in how people search for spiritual communities. Whether someone is relocating to a new city or simply feeling the tug to reconnect with their faith, they are likely starting their search online. And more often than not, that search is being filtered through some form of AI. The question church leaders need to be asking is not just “Are we on Google?” but “Are we findable through AI?” The churches that answer that well are the ones that will grow. Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Table of contentsSearch Is More Than Google5 Ways AI Is Shaping Church Discovery1. AI Answers Questions, Not Just Searches2. Your Website Needs to Be AI-Friendly3. Local Search Is Influenced by Digital Signals4. Sermons and Videos Are Now Searchable5. The Churches That Will Be Found Are the Ones That ServeWhat Church Leaders Should Do NextA New Era of SearchMore Resources on Church AI Search Is More Than Google Google is still a major player, but the way people interact with it has evolved. Instead of typing in short phrases, users now ask full questions and expect a conversational answer. This is the influence of AI systems like Google’s Search Generative Experience and tools like ChatGPT. Someone searching for a church might not just type “church in Dallas” anymore. They might ask, “What’s a welcoming church in Dallas with strong kids’ programs and contemporary worship?” AI can now deliver personalized, context-aware answers. That means your church needs to be discoverable not just through traditional keywords but through AI-generated responses that highlight what people really want to know. 5 Ways AI Is Shaping Church Discovery AI is not just changing the tools people use. It is changing what they expect from those tools. Below are five major shifts every church should understand. 1. AI Answers Questions, Not Just Sear...

Church websites are not just digital bulletin boards anymore. They are front doors to your church, spiritual hubs, and key tools for outreach and discipleship. Yet even in 2026, too many church websites still feel stuck in the past. An outdated site can make your church look disconnected or disorganized. It can confuse first-time visitors, frustrate members looking for basic info, and fail to reflect your church’s heart and mission. A fresh coat of digital paint is not enough. Let’s talk about what really makes a modern church website work. Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Table of contentsIt’s Not Just About a New Theme Anymore6 Reasons Your Website Still Feels Outdated1. Your Homepage Tries to Say Too Much2. Your Site Is Not Optimized for Mobile3. You’re Not Answering the Right Questions4. You Still Use Stock Photos or Staged Poses5. There’s No Clear Path for a First-Time Guest6. Your Content Rarely Gets UpdatedWhat a Modern Church Website Should Actually DoWhat’s Next?More Resources on Church Websites It’s Not Just About a New Theme Anymore Swapping out your church website theme or logo is easy. But surface-level changes do not fix a deeper disconnect. Your website is often the first place people go before they ever set foot on your campus. It has to do more than look good. It has to communicate clearly and serve people well. The best church websites today are purpose-built. They help people find service times, submit prayer requests, stream past sermons, and take next steps. They answer questions before anyone has to ask them. And they tell a consistent story that reflects your values, your vision, and your community involvement. If your church website still feels outdated, it is time to dig a little deeper. 6 Reasons Your Website Still Feels Outdated Even churches that put effort into their website often miss the deeper issues. These are some of the most common reasons your site still feels stuck. 1. Your Homepage Tries to Say Too Much Too many church websites overload their homepage with every ministry, every announcement, and every event. Instead of welcoming guests, it overwhelms them. Your homepage is not the place to tell...

Most churches know they should be measuring something. But knowing what to measure and why is an entirely different conversation. It is easy to get caught up in vanity metrics or track data that has little to do with your church’s mission. The truth is, churches that consistently measure the right things are the ones that grow in health, not just size. And in 2026, with better tools and more access to data than ever before, it is time to get serious about what matters. So let’s break down the most valuable metrics your church should be measuring right now. Not everything that can be counted counts, but what counts can absolutely be counted. Estimated reading time: 8 minutes Table of contentsNot All Metrics Are Created EqualThe Metrics That Matter Most1. First-Time Guest Follow-Up Rate2. Group Participation Rate3. Giving Consistency, Not Just Amount4. Prayer and Spiritual Practice Engagement5. Online Engagement That Leads to In-Person Connection6. Retention After Major Events7. Staff Health and Burnout Indicators8. Next Step Conversion Rate9. Volunteer Participation and Follow-ThroughYour Next StepMore Resources on Church Metrics Not All Metrics Are Created Equal Here’s the thing: not all data leads to transformation. Some metrics can distract from the real goals of ministry. Tracking how many views your sermon received is nice, but if it does not lead to deeper discipleship or community engagement, it is not moving the mission forward. Church leaders need to avoid the trap of tracking numbers just for the sake of tracking. A great church management software can give you beautiful dashboards, but it is up to you to connect that data to real-world impact. The question is not just “Can we measure this?” but “Does measuring this help us implement targeted initiatives that actually serve our people?” So let’s focus on the ones that do. The Metrics That Matter Most The best church metrics are not just numbers. They are indicators of health, growth, and spiritual movement. The ones that matter help you understand how committed church members really are, and how well your church is serving them. Each metric below is tied to som...

AI is not just coming for the future of the church. It is already here, bringing with it the promise of transformative potential for ministry and outreach. From sermon prep tools to automated follow-up, artificial intelligence is changing how churches communicate, create, and care for their people. Still, not every trend is worth following blindly. Church leaders need to understand what is useful, what is overhyped, and what still needs more clarity. In a world full of new features, tools, and promises, we need discernment more than ever. In this episode, we rank 8 different church AI trends to determine if each is a must-use tool or a critical compromise. Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Table of contentsRanking SystemAI Trends Ranked1. Personalized Communication2. Sermon Research Tools3. Visual Media and Graphics4. Autonomous Assistants5. Analytics for Ministry Strategy6. Voice Cloning for Sermon Dubs7. Predictive AI for Church Growth8. Church Policies on AI UseThe Future of AI and the ChurchMore Resources on Church AI Ranking System To help cut through the noise, we’ve ranked the top church AI trends for 2026 using three categories, based on the idea of thoughtful evaluation and planning to ensure responsible and effective adoption: Must-Use Tools: These are the game changers. Every church should be paying attention to these and implementing them where possible. Worth a Look: These trends have strong potential, especially for certain contexts. They may not be for everyone yet, but they’re worth exploring. Wait and See: These might be helpful someday, but for now, they raise too many ethical questions or lack clear use cases in the church world. AI Trends Ranked Before we get into the list, it is worth acknowledging that not all church tech and technologies are created equal. Some tools and technologies streamline operations, while others sound exciting but do little to advance ministry work. Our goal is to help you see where the real ministry impact lies by selecting and implementing the right technologies. 1. Personalized Communication If you want to connect with people in 2026, you need to speak directly to them. AI-powered personalization tools allow churches to tailor emails, text messages, and website experiences based on individual interests and behaviors.<...

AI tools are changing the way people work, think, and communicate. And now they are showing up in the last place many expected: the pulpit. Some pastors are using tools like ChatGPT to help with their sermon writing process. Others are warning that this is the beginning of the end for biblical preaching. So what should church leaders do? Is using AI sermon prep tools a smart way to save time or a dangerous shortcut that replaces the Holy Spirit? Let’s break it down. Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Table of contentsThe Real Debate6 Ways ChatGPT Can Help (Without Replacing the Holy Spirit)1. Brainstorming Ideas and Outlines2. Finding Related Bible Verses3. Illustrating Big Ideas4. Simplifying Complex Concepts5. Organizing Research and Notes6. Creating Supplemental ContentYour Next StepMore Resources on Church AI The Real Debate The real issue is not whether ChatGPT can write a sermon. It can. The real issue is whether it should. Critics argue that using a tool like this will lead to shallow sermons, theological inaccuracies, or even full-blown plagiarism. Some worry that pastors will outsource their calling to a chatbot instead of seeking wisdom through prayer, study, and the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, many church leaders are finding helpful ways to use AI without compromising biblical integrity. They are not using it to replace the sermon prep process, but to support it. And they are using clear boundaries and discernment to make sure the main voice behind every sermon remains their own. Let’s look at how ChatGPT and other AI sermon generators can actually enhance your preaching, not hijack it. 6 Ways ChatGPT Can Help (Without Replacing the Holy Spirit) AI tools are not replacements for your prayer life or personal study, but they can supplement your sermon resources and streamline the way you prepare each message. Here are six ways pastors are using AI in their sermon prep process, while still relying on the Spirit for the final word. 1. Brainstorming Ideas and Outlines Every preacher has faced that blank page moment. You know you need to start your sermon prep, but you are not sure what the main point should be or how to organize your thoughts. This is where a tool like ChatGPT can help. By inputting a general sermon topic or biblical passage, pastors can quickly get a list of outline options or ser...