Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a small gathering of pastors at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs hosted by the team at Subsplash. The goal was simple: get a group of church leaders in a room to talk about digital trends in the church.

The conversations were inspiring—and, honestly, a little eye-opening. It became clear that the way we reach and disciple people is changing faster than ever. Technology isn’t just a side tool anymore; it’s the environment most people live in every day.

Here are six digital trends I walked away thinking every church leader should pay attention to.

1. People Are More Engaged on Their Phones Than Ever

Whether we like it or not, the phone has become the front porch of our culture.

• The average American spends 45+ hours a week on their phone.

• They tap, swipe, or click over 2,600 times a day.

• Over a lifetime, that adds up to more than five years on social media alone.

If that’s where people are spending their time, that’s where the church needs to be present. Jesus met people where they were—at the well, in the marketplace, on the roadside. Today, that “place” often looks like a screen.

2. First Impressions Happen Online

Before anyone visits your church, they’ve already “visited” online. In fact, research shows most people check out a church seven or more times on digital platforms before stepping foot through the door.

That means your website, app, and social media feeds are your new front door. They communicate who you are long before anyone shakes a greeter’s hand or hears a sermon.

Excellence online isn’t about image—it’s about trust. When people see clear, consistent, and engaging content, it tells them you care about what matters to them.

3. AI Search Is Changing Everything

One of the most surprising takeaways from the discussions was how quickly AI is reshaping search. People are now asking ChatGPT and other AI tools for answers—spiritual ones included.

These engines pull from what they can find online. If your church doesn’t have content—blogs, sermons, video clips, devotionals—it simply won’t show up in the results.

That’s why content must be your strategy. Thoughtful, biblical content isn’t just a ministry tool; it’s a discoverability strategy.

4. YouTube Is the Top Platform Across Generations

We often think of social platforms as age-specific—TikTok for students, Facebook for grandparents—but the data tells a different story. YouTube is number one across every generation.

If your church isn’t there, you’re missing a massive opportunity.
That said, remember: YouTube’s algorithm is designed to keep people on its platform, not necessarily on your content.

Use YouTube as a front door for discovery, not your only discipleship tool. It’s a great place to spark interest—then draw people deeper through your app, website, or small-group content.

5. Don’t Overlook Adults 55 and Older

Here’s a statistic that surprised all of us: the fastest-growing group leaving the church today are those 55 and older.

That’s heartbreaking—especially because this group holds an incredible amount of wisdom, influence, and resources to advance the Kingdom.

We need to find creative ways to re-engage them digitally: testimonies, podcasts, video devotionals, or online studies that value their voice and experience. Let’s not lose one of the most spiritually rich generations in modern church history.

6. Technology Must Become a Tool for Discipleship

This was the biggest takeaway of all. Technology isn’t just about livestreams or social posts—it’s about discipleship.

Our church partners with Subsplash for our app, and we recently launched a daily Bible-reading plan through it. The goal is simple: keep people in God’s Word consistently.

The latest research from Reveal shows that if a person engages with Scripture at least four times a week, it has a transformative impact on their faith. Technology can make that rhythm easier than ever before.

If you’d like to see how we’re using it, you can check out our church app here.

Final Thoughts

When I left this gathering, I couldn’t stop thinking about how these trends all point to one reality: technology is shaping how people connect, learn, and grow in their faith.

It’s not enough to resist or ignore it. As leaders, we’re called to redeem it—to use every tool available to help people meet Jesus and mature in Him.

So let’s lead the way. Let’s be innovative and intentional. Let’s use the digital world to share timeless truth.

God bless,

Pastor Danny