<a href="https://welstech.wels.net/2026/02/05/769-ai-for-the-assist/" title="769 &#8211; AI for the Assist" rel="nofollow"><img width="1080" height="1080" src="https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist.png" class="wp-image-26420 avia-img-lazy-loading-26420 webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="float: left; margin-right: 30px;" link_thumbnail="1" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist.png 1080w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-300x300.png 300w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-1030x1030.png 1030w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-80x80.png 80w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-768x768.png 768w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-36x36.png 36w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-180x180.png 180w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-705x705.png 705w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></a><p>This episode of WELSTech features an interview with Ryan Kirchoff where he shares an overview of his recent Leadership Conference presentation on our favorite topic &#8211; Artificial Intelligence. <em>Are You an Influencer</em> is the topic of an upcoming webinar. Sallie has a new favorite song, and Martin has a new favorite gadget. Which one will be your favorite?</p> <div style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <div class='avia-iframe-wrap'><iframe loading="lazy" title="WELSTech Episode 769 - AI for the Assist" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1162235958?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963" width="1500" height="844" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe></div> </div> <h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26420" src="https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-300x300.png 300w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-1030x1030.png 1030w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-80x80.png 80w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-768x768.png 768w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-36x36.png 36w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-180x180.png 180w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist-705x705.png 705w, https://welstech.wels.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/769-AI-for-the-Assist.png 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />The discussion</h3> <p data-wp-editing="1">Assist versus lead &#8211; Instructional coordinator and consultant Ryan Kirchoff shares highlights from his recent WELS Leadership Conference session on <a href="https://lutheranleadership.com/artificial-intelligence-and-the-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI and the Church</a> (<a href="https://congserv.blob.core.windows.net/leadership-conf/2026%20Conference%20Materials/Generative%20AI%20and%20Ministry_%20A%20One%E2%80%91Page%20Owner%E2%80%99s%20Manual.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presentation resource</a>). Since late-2022 when AI was first shared, Ryan&#8217;s work at <a href="https://www.fvlhs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox Valley Lutheran High School</a> and with <a href="http://blueprint-schools.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blueprint-Schools.com</a> has taken on an element of educating others about what and how AI can serve ministry.</p> <ul> <li data-wp-editing="1">Ryan&#8217;s latest course, <a href="https://dana-kirchoff.mykajabi.com/offers/8oauLgVh/checkout" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI for Impact</a>, is specially priced at $99 per school during February</li> </ul> <h3>Ministry resource</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/womens-ministry/womens-ministry-webinars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>You Are an Influencer</em> webinar</a> <ul> <li>February 19 &#8211; 7 to 8 pm Central</li> <li>Hosted by WELS Women&#8217;s Ministry</li> </ul> </li> <li>Christmas coloring revisited <ul> <li>Shout out to the upper grades at <a href="https://school.stjohnsfoxlake.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">St. John Lutheran School</a> in Fox Lake, WI and Principal Tom Rosenow</li> <li>Download their AI generated <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L1Vg4S7uzs53ra701mjwqQAFBixNJcnL/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christmas coloring book</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h3>Picks of the week</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhMs7VTm2Lc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Now Rest Beneath Night&#8217;s Shadow</a> &#8211; Melody and chorus by Pastor Caleb Schmiege and Melanie Bourman</li> <li><a href="https://www.getkeysmart.com/products/keysmart-smartcard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KeySmart SmartCard</a></li> </ul> <h3>Community feedback</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/g/welstech/c/EHKRhAFAcj4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBX is all the talk</a> in the <a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/forum/#!forum/welstech">WELSTech Google Group</a></li> </ul> <h3>Next time</h3> <p>Managing a strategic plan with Trello</p> <h3>Get involved</h3> <ul> <li>Add comments</li> <li>Send us an e-mail <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></li> <li>Join the WELSTech community: <ul> <li>WELSTech <a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/forum/#!forum/welstech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Group</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WELSTech">Facebook</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://pinterest.com/welstech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pinterest</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="https://instagram.com/welstechpodcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Add to the WELSTech wiki <a href="http://welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net</a></li> <li>Contribute to the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WELSTech&amp;src=typd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">#WELSTech</a> Twitter conversation</li> <li>Follow us on Twitter &#8211; <a href="http://twitter.com/welstech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">welstech</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mspriggs">mspriggs</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/salliedraper">salliedraper</a></li> <li>Share with the Diigo group <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/welstech">welstech</a></li> </ul>