Something Big Isn't Happening at Christian Money Help

 @mattshumer's article, posted on X this week, received tens of millions of views. In his article titled “Something Big Is Happening,” the AI software engineer outlines the tectonic shift that is occurring as a result of artificial intelligence and the models that have been released this week.

I agree with his assessment of the technology's capability. We’ve gone from 0 to 60 overnight. And with AI systems helping to develop their own models, they are accelerating to what appears to be a scary pace. But I also agree with some of the counterpoints raised. The technology will no doubt be disruptive, but businesses that take safety and security seriously will adopt at a slower pace. Ultimately, the business that delivers both safety and efficiency will win.

So how does this technology impact a counseling business? And how will specifically will it impact Christian Money Help? The pace of this technology is forcing business owners to ask these questions. Here are my answers.

Our Commitment

While AI may automate financial analysis or advice, it cannot replace the Spirit-led, relational work of pointing someone to Christ amid financial hardship or anxiety. Our counseling business is, and always will be, a purely human experience. 

As a software engineer, I understand better than most where this technology can lead. For example, I believe AI will be able to deliver financial help and advice. And it will even be able to muster up what appears to be empathy and concern. No doubt, it will deliver words (written and dictated) that make you feel something. But simulated empathy, however convincing, lacks the indwelling Spirit and personal investment of a fellow believer. It's not real or authentic. 

You have our commitment that our counseling experience will remain a real,  authentic human-centered relationship. 

Why We Avoid AI In The Counseling Room

As an outwardly Christian business, we are dedicated to using God’s Word to guide our mission and vision. And I believe the bible is clear about how we are to help each other - through teaching, exhortation, admonishment, and stirring one another. We are to counsel one another, helping each other bring Jesus Christ back to the center of our lives, including our finances. For that reason, we will never use AI as a replacement for counselors. A few verses that encourage us toward this end:

Romans 15:14
“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”

Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Hebrews 3:13
“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Where We Avoid AI

Given our commitment to building and sustaining human-to-human relationships, AI is largely avoided in that workflow. This means the following:

1. When you fill out our “Get Started” form, a human will review your situation and invite you to book a Discovery Session. We try our best to weed out the “bots” that are begging for help - sometimes we get that wrong (and it does get harder by the day), but that is the consequence of remaining, well, human.
2. Your counseling experience will be with another human via video call. There will be a shift among financial coaching and counseling businesses toward using AI for this call. We won’t do it. The Bible calls us to minister and counsel each other. We need connection and community. This cannot be outsourced or left to technology. Your story will be heard by a real, empathetic, listening ear.
3. When you receive a “Check-In” email from us between sessions, this is from a real human asking how you are doing. Our counselors genuinely care about your situation, pray for you daily, and are checking in on your well-being.

In the world of counseling, human-to-human communication is everything. 

How We Use AI

Christian Money Help does use AI to help support our operation. Its purpose is to maximize the available counseling time while minimizing the administrative burden of managing a multi-counselor practice. Here’s how we use AI:

1. AI is used to spell- and grammar-check our written copy. Our blog articles and newsletters are an important way to connect with and engage people who may need our services, or know someone who does. This means creating well-written, professional content that is consumable by all ages and demographics. The AI tools help us accomplish that purpose. They don’t create the copy; that is all human-generated original content. But the tools help polish that copy.
2. AI is used to create meeting summaries of our counseling interactions. This frees the counselor to listen intently and ask questions without the burden of writing everything down or remembering it. This improves the counseling experience and maximizes the 75 minutes we spend together. However, by policy, we do not record the video sessions. Only a meeting summary of our interaction is produced, and is available upon request. We typically do not distribute the summary out of practice because it often contains material errors that would require manual correction.

That’s it.

Conclusion

God has called us to counsel and minister to one another. Yes, the AI technology situation is evolving quickly. I expect you could receive an AI virtual coach in the future for a fraction of the cost. But Christian Money Help prioritizes depth over scale, trusting God for provision as we serve those who value this approach. We are committed to providing a real human-centered counseling experience that helps you grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus Christ. If you need help and want that type of experience, we welcome you.

Check us out at christianmoneyhelp.com. Our 30-minute Discovery Session is free, and could pave the way to a new financial future for you and your family.