50,000 Questions Answered | Ryan Armstrong

October 27, 20262 min read

What do people ask when no one is watching? In just 70 days, the users of My Shepherd have asked more than 50,000 questions. The AI Bible app answers each one from Scripture and shows the user where every answer comes from. Host Chad Williams sits down with founder Ryan Armstrong to find out how he built a tool that meets people where they are and gives churches a new window into what their people are wrestling with.

Key Takeaways

A closed system grounded in Scripture. Ryan built My Shepherd on Claude Sonnet as its foundation, then added a closed, custom layer trained on the King James Version. Every answer links back to the passages it draws from, so users can dig deeper into the Word themselves.

Real users shaped a simpler experience. Early testers, including pastors, found the original category-first design cluttered. Ryan cut it down to a single question box, and users now say they can type a question and get a Scripture-based answer within seconds.

A pulse on the congregation, without names attached. On the back end, churches see anonymized questions grouped by category, so pastors and leaders can learn what their people are struggling with. Individuals still have a safe space to bring hard questions about marriage, infidelity and more.

Crisis care built in from day one. When a question involves suicide or self-harm, My Shepherd bypasses the AI, connects the user with the 988 suicide prevention helpline and encourages them to talk with a trusted adult or friend. Ryan believes it is the first AI with this feature.

Customizable for each church. My Shepherd is built as a white-label platform that churches can tailor to their congregation. Ryan is learning alongside a local church's Monday night faith group to discover what churches need most.

A commitment to long-term ownership. Chad asks the tough question every ministry leader should ask about a new tool: what happens if it gets acquired? Ryan shares lessons from taking on investors at his first startup and why he plans to keep 100% ownership of My Shepherd.

Organic growth that points to real value. More than 3,000 people joined in 70 days with no marketing spend, mostly through word of mouth. One user told Ryan the app has become his way to connect with God "between Sundays."

What Does It Look Like to Build AI With Care?

If your ministry is weighing where AI fits in your mission, this conversation is an honest look at what it takes to build with care, from privacy and crisis safeguards to holding plans with an open hand. Listen to the full episode to hear Chad and Ryan work through the hard questions, and stay for the story of a chess painting that reminds us the King always has one more move.

RESOURCES

My Shepherd: myshepherdapp.church

Connect with Ryan Armstrong: ryan@myshepherdapp.church

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