Interacting with Theo
Accessible at any hour, Theo responds to inquiries about faith, children’s ministry, and visits — and connects with a pastor when a real person is required.
Some discussions simply should never be handled by a machine. We established those boundaries first, before we built anything else.”— Dennis Cummins, Senior Pastor, ExperienceChurch.tv
ExperienceChurch.tv is rolling out Theo, an AI-powered assistant available 24/7 on the church’s site, meant to address queries about the church, its doctrines, and its ministries the instant someone asks — eliminating the need for phone calls, voicemails, or waiting until office hours.
The core goal is straightforward: enable people to get the information they need faster, whether that involves a service schedule or a deep theological inquiry.
HUMANS STAY CENTRAL
The church is upfront about what Theo is designed to do and what it is not.
"This was never about replacing human interaction," said Senior Pastor Dennis Cummins. "It’s about supplementing it. Somebody shouldn’t have to call an office and get routed through three people to find out what time we start, or whether their four-year-old is safe in our kids ministry. Those answers should be available the second they want them."
Theo identifies itself as a chatbot and clearly states it is not a person if anyone asks — a deliberate choice in its design.
Questions that require a human touch are still directed to one. Anything involving grief, a family death, marital trouble, illness, or a personal crisis is forwarded directly to a pastor rather than handled by the assistant. Conversations mentioning suicide or self-harm trigger an immediate transfer: the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the church office number, and a strong recommendation to speak with a real person.
"Some discussions simply should never be handled by a machine," Cummins said. "We established those boundaries first, before we built anything else."
WHAT THEO CAN ADDRESS
Theo draws from a knowledge base created specifically for the church, encompassing service times, locations, and what first-time visitors should anticipate; children’s ministry details, including age ranges, check-in and pick-up procedures, background checks, and safety protocols; youth, young adults, women’s ministry, men’s ministry, and Legacy 60; the church’s beliefs, including its Statement of Biblical Convictions; deeper theological matters based on Pastor Cummins’s book "Going Deeper"; serving opportunities with the Dream Team and worship team auditions; giving options such as stock, property, and legacy gifts; and Hearts for Nepal, the church’s nonprofit work.
When asked about doctrine, Theo includes Scripture references so people can see the basis of an answer rather than accepting it without evidence. It is also programmed to differentiate between the church’s essential doctrines and its positions — presenting the latter as the church’s viewpoint without suggesting that believers who hold a different view are not part of the faith.
Theo also supports voice interaction. Visitors can talk to it and receive spoken replies, a feature the church anticipates will be especially helpful for older members and anyone who finds typing challenging.
ON ACCURACY
Cummins acknowledges that the tool is not without flaws.
"I liken it to Tesla’s self-driving feature," he said. "It isn’t perfect. But it’s faster and more consistent at getting somebody a straight answer than making phone calls and being routed around until you find the right person. And when it doesn’t know something, it says so instead of guessing."
Theo is designed to refuse rather than fabricate. If a question falls outside its knowledge, it states that it does not know and directs users to the church office.
AVAILABLE NOW
Theo is live at ExperienceChurch.tv. No app download or account creation is required — visitors simply click the chat button and begin asking questions.
ABOUT EXPERIENCECHURCH.TV
ExperienceChurch.tv is a non-denominational church established in 1991, with campuses in South Hill, Puyallup, Washington, and Surprise, Arizona. Its mission is to connect people to Christ, equip them for success, and empower them for leadership. Dennis Cummins serves as Senior Pastor.
Media Contact
mail@experiencechurch.tv
253-845-6880
Dariel Cummins
ExperienceChurch.tv
+1 253-845-6880
email us here
Visit us on social media:
YouTube
