New Wineskins For A Divine Calling: How AI Is A Resourceful Tool For Shepherding Souls
- Dr. Dee Evans
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
In Luke 5:37–38, Jesus speaks of new wine needing new wineskins. The heart of pastoral is an ancient practice, but AI is a new wineskin based tool that offers innovative ways to be present for people in every season of their life.
Faith based leaders who prayerfully and thoughtfully use AI can extend their reach, deepen their care, and help their communities thrive in this digital age — all while keeping the gospel of Christ at the center. Despite the growing exposure videos on false prophets and emotionally abusive pastors, a large aspect of the ministry of Jesus Christ is based on caring for people’s hearts, needs, and souls is central. As churches grow and communities become more digitally connected, faith leaders are discovering new ways to extend personal care without losing the human touch. One of the emerging tools making this possible is Artificial Intelligence (AI).
While AI can never replace the role of a Spirit-led pastor, it can enhance pastoral care by helping leaders stay organized, attentive, and proactive — especially when it comes to areas like prayer requests, follow-ups, and care tracking.
Here’s how AI is reshaping pastoral care for the better:
1. Managing and Organizing Prayer Requests
Prayer is a cornerstone of the Christian life — and every pastor knows the beauty and the challenge of keeping up with numerous prayer needs.
AI can assist by:
• Collecting prayer requests through online forms, text messages, or apps.
• Categorizing them (healing, grief, family needs, salvation, etc.) so pastors can prioritize urgent needs.
• Setting reminders for ongoing prayer needs, ensuring no request is forgotten even weeks or months later.
Imagine a system that alerts you:
“Remember to pray today for "Amy Johnson’s" surgery recovery — it’s been two weeks since her operation.”
"Reach out to John Doe today, one year ago their spouse died."
This simple nudge can make a profound difference in how cared for members feel.
2. Tracking Follow-Ups and Pastoral Visits
AI can act almost like a personal assistant in helping pastors:
• Track hospital visits, home visits, phone calls, and counseling appointments.
• Create a timeline of each member’s needs and pastoral interactions.
• Suggest follow-up actions (e.g., “It’s been 30 days since the last check-in with Brother Williams after his job loss”).
Instead of relying on memory or manual notes, AI tools can keep a confidential, organized history of care — helping leaders serve people consistently over time.
3. Supporting Grief and Life Event Ministry
When church members face milestones like births, deaths, weddings, or anniversaries of loss, AI can:
• Prompt pastors to send encouragement, Scripture verses, or pastoral letters at just the right time.
• Provide personalized message templates that leaders can modify and send, maintaining a personal touch while easing the workload.
This ensures that even in a growing congregation, every member feels seen and remembered in their moments of joy and sorrow.
4. Identifying Unseen Needs
Sometimes pastoral needs don’t come through direct requests. AI can analyze trends — like reduced attendance, disengagement from groups, or fewer digital interactions — and flag individuals who might need a wellness check.
For instance:
“Brother Davis hasn’t checked into his small group meeting for six weeks — maybe he needs a pastoral reach-out.”
AI doesn’t make assumptions, but it can give pastors the data-driven awareness to act in love and wisdom.
5. Respecting Privacy and Sensitivity
It’s important to note: confidentiality and discernment must always be top priorities. AI systems used in pastoral care should be secure, respectful, and operated under clear ethical guidelines. Technology should always serve people, not the other way around.
Our clarity consultations are perfect for individuals who need to brainstorm through a specific spiritual or business need.
Dr. Dee Evans
CEO, Koinonia Training and Consulting
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