Shepherd — No one should walk through the dark alone

Section 1 — About you

Q1Your name

Q2Your role

Q3What best describes your community size?*

Small group or Bible study (under 20 people)Church under 100 membersChurch 100 to 500 membersChurch 500 to 1,500 membersChurch over 1,500 members

Section 2 — The care gap

Q4How often do people slip through the cracks in your community?*

Rarely — we have a solid follow-up systemSometimes — people still slip away despite our effortsOften — it happens more than we'd like to admitConstantly — this is one of our biggest challenges

Q5What tools do you currently use for care or attendance tracking?

Planning CenterBreezeChurchTracGroup text / WhatsApp / Facebook groupSpreadsheetsNothing formal — it's all in my headSomething else

Q6What's the hardest part of caring for your people right now?Be as specific as you want. This is the most important question on this form.

Section 3 — AI in care ministry

Our philosophy on AI: Shepherd's AI is never meant to replace a pastor, a small group leader, or a caring friend. It is a tool that listens, notices patterns, and helps the humans who care so they can act faster and reach further than they could alone. The AI surfaces. People decide. People act.

Q7In your view, where does AI belong in a care ministry context? Select all that feel right.

Tracking attendance and engagement patterns so I don't have toDrafting follow-up messages so I know what to sayProviding an anonymous space for people to open up before they're ready to talk to a personFlagging when someone may be in crisis so I can step inSummarizing who needs attention each weekHonestly — I don't think AI belongs in this space at all

Q8Where should AI never go in pastoral or small group care?No wrong answers. This shapes our guardrails.

Q9How do you think your congregation or group would react to AI being used behind the scenes to support care?

Most would be open if it genuinely helped them be cared forMixed — some would appreciate it, others would push backSkeptical — faith and AI don't sit easily together for most of my peopleI honestly don't know how they'd react

Section 4 — Sanctuary Mode

What Sanctuary Mode is: An anonymous AI-powered listening space embedded on your church website or shared with your group. No login. No name required. Someone types what is on their heart and something warm responds. It listens, asks gentle follow-up questions, and never gives advice or quotes scripture at people. The AI never pushes anyone to connect. But when someone is ready, Sanctuary gives them two paths: connect with the church whose website they are already on, or find a nearby church that fits where they are. The person is always in control.

Q10Do you have people in your church or group who you know are hurting but would never come to you directly?

Yes — I know there are people I am not reachingProbably — I sense it but cannot confirm itI am not sure — that is part of the problemNot really — our community is pretty open

Q11How do you feel about Sanctuary connecting anonymous users to your church when they say they are ready?

Love it — that is exactly the kind of warm handoff we needOpen to it — I would want to know how the handoff works before committingCautious — I would need to make sure my team is ready to receive those referralsNot sure it is right for us — we are not set up for that kind of outreach yet

Q12What about Sanctuary also suggesting other nearby churches if the person is not local or not ready for yours?

That is generous and I respect it — care over competitionFine with it as long as our church is offered firstI would want more control over which churches get suggestedThat makes me uncomfortable — I would rather it only connect to our church

Q13If Sanctuary Mode existed today, where would you most want to offer it?

Our church websiteShared privately with my small groupOffered to my Bible study membersAvailable for youth or student ministryLinked from the bulletin or visitor cardI would not use this feature

Q14What concerns, if any, would you have about offering Sanctuary Mode to your community?

Section 5 — Small groups and Bible study

Q15If you lead a small group or Bible study, what is the hardest part of keeping people engaged and cared for between meetings?

I have no visibility into how people are doing between sessionsI want to follow up but I don't have the time or know what to saySome members never open up in the group settingPeople drift away quietly and I only notice when they are already goneI don't lead a group — this doesn't apply to me

Q16What would actually help you care for your group members better between meetings?

Choose up to 2 (0/2 selected)

A weekly nudge telling me who to check in with and whyAn anonymous space group members can use when they are not ready to share openlyAI-drafted check-in messages personalized to each personA way to track prayer requests and follow up on them automaticallyHonestly, I just need more time — tools are not the problem

Section 6 — Last thing

Q17How likely are you to try Shepherd free for 30 days if it existed today?*

1 — Not a chance10 — Sign me up now

Q18Is there a care problem at your church or group you wish someone would just solve?Say whatever comes to mind. No filter needed.

Q19Would you be open to a 15-minute conversation to shape what we build?

Yes — here is how to reach meMaybe — follow up and I will seeNo thanks, but glad this is being built

Your responses are private and used only to shape Shepherd.