In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Dr Billy Coppedge, former Lausanne catalyst for orality and author of I, Missionary: Reimagining Missions in an AI World.

Together, they explore the surprising connection between orality and artificial intelligence, why human presence and relationships remain essential to Christian mission, and what it truly means to be sent by God.

Billy challenges us to look beyond the capabilities of AI and consider what technology cannot reproduce: the experience of encountering God, the wisdom that comes from walking with him, and a life that embodies Christ's character.

This conversation invites Christian leaders to approach AI with both openness and discernment, remembering that our calling is not simply to communicate the gospel, but to live it.

• Mission is more than sharing information. AI can communicate knowledge about God, but Christian witness involves reflecting his character through our lives and relationships.
• Human presence matters. Orality and the incarnation remind us that how we communicate the gospel is as important as the message itself.
• Intelligence is not wisdom. AI offers extraordinary access to knowledge, but biblical wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.
• Stories help us imagine the future. Billy's book uses fictional scenarios to explore the opportunities and challenges AI presents for Christian mission.
• Spiritual discernment must come first. Prayer, attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, and genuine human relationships should shape how we engage with technology.

Dr. Billy Coppedge is a missionary, storyteller, and former Lausanne catalyst for orality. Having served in global mission for more than two decades, including in Uganda, he is passionate about Scripture engagement and embodied Christian witness. He is the author of I, Missionary: Reimagining Missions in an AI World.

• I, Missionary: Reimagining Missions in an AI World — Billy Coppedge's book
• AI Guidelines for Christian Ministry — Practical guidance for responsible AI use in Christian ministry
• Orality: The Embodied Word in the Age of AI — Part 1 and Part 2 — Articles co-authored by Billy Coppedge
• Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive

• How to Keep Up with AI Without Outrunning God | Natchi Lazarus
• Can Artificial Intelligence Lead Someone to Jesus? | Chase Cappo

If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a Christian leader navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI. Join the conversation on the Lausanne Action Hub, and consider leaving a rating or review to help others discover the podcast.

AI is helping Christian leaders do more, faster. But what happens when our ability to move quickly begins to outpace our ability to hear from God?

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Natchi Lazarus about how artificial intelligence is moving beyond simply generating content and becoming something more like a coworker, agent, or additional member of the ministry team.

Natchi explores the practical potential of agentic AI for churches and ministries—from increasing personal productivity to expanding the capacity of small teams. But as the technology becomes more powerful, he argues that Christian leaders need deeper spiritual discernment, not less.

Together, Jason and Natchi discuss what it means to move from “human versus AI” to “human plus AI”, why Christians should keep God in the loop when using new technology, and how practices of Scripture, prayer, and “spiritual white space” can help us embrace the possibilities of AI without outrunning what God is actually calling us to do.

• AI is moving from tool to teammate.
• AI can help ministries redeem time for what matters most.
• The future is not simply human versus AI, but human plus AI.
• Start with your work, not the technology.
• Keep God in the loop.
• Move fast with technology, but slow down spiritually.
• Just because AI can do something does not mean God is asking you to do it.

• Can Artificial Intelligence Lead Someone to Jesus? Chase Cappo on the Digital Frontier of Evangelism and Discipleship — Lausanne episode
• Redeeming Human Identity: Exploring the Intersection of Scripture, AI, Biotechnology, Gender and Human Sexuality with Dr. Carmen Imes & Dr. Matthew Niermann — Lausanne episode
• Emerging Digital Frontier: Amplifying the Gospel’s Impact through Technology with Simon Seow & Matthew Niermann — Lausanne episode

• Natchi Lazarus — Natchi’s website, writing, speaking, and resources on AI, social media, and digital ministry. natchilazarus.com
• Spirit-Led Intelligence: Your God-Given Superpower for Thriving in the Age of AI, and Beyond — Natchi’s book on biblical wisdom and Spirit-led discernment in an AI-shaped world. Spirit-Led Intelligence on Amazon
• Connected Church Academy — Courses, workshops, and community for Christian leaders and ministry teams learning AI, social media, and digital ministry. Connected Church Academy
• The Connected Church — Natchi’s book on social media communication strategy for churches and Christian organisations. The Connected Church on Amazon
• Zapier Agents — The AI-agent platform Natchi recommends in the interview as an accessible place to experiment with agentic workflows. Zapier Agents guide
• Lausanne Action Hub - https://collaborate.lausanne.org/