How Digital Technology Is Shaping the Church
Digital technology has become deeply integrated into everyday life and increasingly into church ministry. Churches are using digital tools to communicate, give, worship, connect, and disciple while wrestling with concerns about AI, authenticity, and the limits of online community.
- Church leaders largely see technology as a useful tool for communication, outreach, organization, and connection.
- Christians increasingly expect churches to provide digital resources, online giving, communication tools, and other technology alongside in-person ministry.
- The challenge for churches is to use technology intentionally without allowing it to replace authentic relationships, discipleship, and pastoral care.
By Kent Fillinger
Digital technology dominates our lives and time. Nine out of 10 Americans own a smartphone which they check on average 144 times a day. Gen Z (those born from 1997 to 2012) spend an average of nine hours a day on their phones.
Thirty percent of U.S. adults report going online to search for information about religion. About 21 percent of U.S. adults use Scripture apps or websites. Two-thirds of Bible users access the Bible digitally at least some of the time according to a 2025 American Bible Society report. Roughly 27 percent of U.S. adults regularly watch religious services online or on TV. About 15 percent of Americans regularly listen to religion-focused podcasts. And 80 percent of people will check a churchโs website before visiting in person.
How Pastors View and Use Technology
Social media, online/mobile giving, livestreaming worship services, church management software, QR codes, and texting were the technology products used by 80 percent or more of churches.
The top three purposes of technology in church ministry identified by church leaders were: to communicate information clearly and effectively (27%), to reach more people with the message of the gospel (19%), and to make ministry more efficient and organized (19%).
Seventy-eight percent of church leaders say technology tends to make ministry life easier and 79 percent say technology has improved connection within their congregations according to the State of Church Tech 2026 report published by Barna and Pushpay. One-third of church leaders strongly agree that digital tools open new opportunities for ministry and can help the church fulfill its mission.
Generally, church leaders are hopeful about technologyโs role in ministry, yet aware of its limits and risks. Church staff members are more likely than lead pastors to view technology as essential to core ministry functions. Half of church staff say technology is โextremely importantโ for worship compared to 37 percent of pastors. A similar gap appears when it comes to community (41% vs. 29%) and discipleship (23% vs. 17%).
Sixty percent of church leaders say they use AI at least a few times a month while only 24 percent say they never use AI. About half of church leaders say they are very concerned about plagiarism and compromised message integrity (51%) or about losing the authenticity of their preaching and teaching (49%) when it comes to AI.
Almost two-thirds of church leaders (64%) feel itโs extremely or somewhat important for churches to have an AI use policy, yet only five percent of church leaders say their church currently has an established policy for AI use.
What Kind of Technology Do People Want from a Church?
Many American adults expect modern churches to offer a seamless, hybrid blending of physical and digital technology. Rather than replacing in-person worship, digital tools are viewed as essential resources for communication, convenience, and spiritual growth outside of Sunday services.
Text-to-give, online giving, and mobile app transactions have largely replaced cash and check physical offering plates. Automated, computerized child check-in kiosks are heavily expected by young families prioritizing safety and speed.
Congregants expect churches to utilize custom mobile apps and Bible reading plans for church-wide Bible reading schedules, prayer reminders, and study materials. And they look for Spotify or Apple Music playlists from their church to learn worship songs throughout the week.
Ongoing Barna research conducted in partnership with Gloo in January 2025 revealed a strong majority of Christians say churches could benefit from tools like online giving (75%) and a digital resource hub (74%), as well as better social media outreach (70%) and digital communication strategies (68%).
According to a November 2023 Barna Group study, over half of U.S. Christians (52%) would be disappointed to learn their church uses AI. Additionally, Lifeway Research shows deep concern regarding AI integration into the spiritual core of the church, such as writing sermons, pastoral counseling, or drafting devotionals.
Technology is expected to facilitate human connection, not replace it. Hereโs the truth: digital discipleship doesnโt need to be complicated. It just needs to be intentional.
How has Technology Affected the Church?
Has technology helped or hurt the American church? The answer depends on your perspective.
On the positive side, technology provides a church with expanded reach and accessibility and enables a church to reach beyond their physical walls to engage people through online worship services regardless of location or physical ability. Technology provides enhanced communication channels and increased engagement by using tools like text messaging and church apps to communicate in real-time about events, prayer requests, and ministry updates to keep people informed. Technology also provides a wealth of Bible study tools, resources, and media that people can use to grow in their faith.
Some of the challenges include superficial connections that can lack depth or the accountability that comes from face-to-face fellowship. Technology can also feed the consumer mindset and fuel distracted participation as people watch church online. It also makes it easier for people to church hop based on preferences rather than commit to being part of a local body of believers. Churches that focus too heavily on production value or digital presence may inadvertently neglect the discipleship and pastoral care needed for spiritual growth.
ChurchLeaders.com summarized it well when they said, โTo thrive in a digital age, the church must balance embracing technologyโs potential with preserving the relational and spiritual depth that defines authentic Christian community. Properly stewarded, technology can be a servant of the gospel rather than a distraction from it.โ
Author: Kent E. Fillinger
Kent E. Fillinger serves as president of 3:STRANDS Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana, and regional vice president (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan) with Christian Financial Resources.
