Michael Youssef Harnesses AI for Spiritual Guidance with My Faith Assistant
Embracing technology with a spiritual twist, Michael Youssef, founder of Leading The Way and pastor at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, is challenging the fear surrounding artificial intelligence among Christians. At the age of 77, the Egyptian-American pastor and author shared with The Christian Post his journey to “redeem AI” and the fruition of this vision through a new digital platform.
“I listen carefully to what people are saying, and I understand why so many are terrified of AI,” Youssef explained. “For some good reasons, the potential is huge both ways. But I asked myself, how do we redeem AI? And I believe with all my heart that we’ve succeeded.”
Youssef’s success is embodied in My Faith Assistant, an innovative AI-driven tool providing “clear, Scripturally sound responses” to spiritual inquiries. Created by Leading The Way’s internal team alongside faith-focused technologists and entrepreneurs, this tool draws parallels to ChatGPT but is distinctly “rooted solely in Scripture and faithful teaching from the Word of God.”
Now accessible via MyFaithAssistant.com and Leading The Way’s mobile app, the platform marks a significant milestone in digital ministry, offering real-time biblical guidance and pastoral care, according to Youssef.
The inception of My Faith Assistant stemmed from a simple discussion, Youssef recounted. “I sat with my technical teams, I’m not a technical man at all, but I know enough to bring the right people to the table,” he stated. “We have an expert on AI heading up our social media team full-time, and together with some business leaders who run AI companies, we just talked about it. How do we redeem AI? How can we use it for the glory of God?”
This collaboration resulted in a platform where users can seek answers to questions like “What does the Bible say about forgiveness?” and receive concise, Bible-based responses drawn from Youssef’s extensive preaching and writing history. The tool has already supported over 2,400 pilot conversations across 191 biblical topics.
Youssef linked this venture to the broader use of technology in ministry, recalling, “The internet came, and everybody panicked, saying it was going to bring all this horrible stuff. And sure enough, it did. But also, now so many people are using the internet to proclaim the Gospel. A knife can hurt somebody or cut bread; everything can be used for the glory of God or as the enemy’s tool. So let’s bring this light to the forefront and let God’s people use it and be blessed by it.”
Beyond providing quick answers, the tool aims to foster spiritual growth and discipleship. It offers Bible reading plans, access to Youssef’s sermons, and connections to Leading The Way’s pastoral support for prayer and guidance.
Inspired by the ministry’s “Finding True Peace” initiative, Youssef emphasized that personal interaction remains key. “When we were overwhelmed with responses from Finding True Peace, we assembled a group of retired pastors to personally pray with people,” he remembered. “One of them said, ‘I’ve led more people to Christ through this than in all my years in ministry.’ So when someone using My Faith Assistant wants that personal touch, we have those pastors ready.”
My Faith Assistant complements the continuous innovation characterizing Youssef’s ministry since its 1988 inception. Leading The Way started with shortwave broadcasts targeting believers in restricted nations, expanded into satellite TV with THE KINGDOM SAT for Arabic-speaking viewers, and provides solar-powered devices for remote scripture access. Its global prayer network now unites believers across over 190 countries.
Youssef views the AI tool as a pivotal extension of these efforts. “We’ve always broken through barriers to reach people with God’s Word,” he remarked. “This tool lets anyone, from the curious skeptic to the mature believer, receive trustworthy answers rooted in Scripture.”
He added, “We exist for one purpose. That is to honor the Lord Jesus Christ by ministering to His people, regardless of background or denomination. I often say: yes, we can curse the darkness but let’s not stop there. Let’s light a candle. And this is one of those candles.”
Youssef also stressed the importance of engaging the younger generation with technology and leadership roles within the church. “I’m seeing it even in our own church,” he said. “The younger generation is into technology, and I’m bringing them into leadership now, not waiting until they get older.”
His son, Jonathan Youssef, now shares the pulpit at their Atlanta church, illustrating this generational transition. “He’s 41 and preaching more and more,” Youssef noted. “We’re raising up the next generation. I tell them, ‘You have to carry the baton. You can’t wait until we’re gone.’ We don’t want to be the generation with whom the Gospel dies.”
With a global ministry reach, Youssef hopes young leaders worldwide will embrace this legacy. Reflecting on the recent losses of faith leaders like Voddie Baucham and John MacArthur, he urged the new generation to rise up now. “We’ve lost so many wonderful giants of the faith,” he lamented. “It grieves me, but that’s why I tell this generation: you need to rise up now, not in the future.”
“Everything we do is for the audience of one,” Youssef concluded. “One day I want to stand before Jesus and hear, ‘Well done.'”
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
