Using AI Wisely: Thoughtful approaches when serving children and families
How can Christian ministries use AI-powered tools wisely—especially when serving vulnerable children and families? In this episode, we explore what it looks like to approach artificial intelligence with discernment, care, and faithfulness. We examine key questions and guiding principles that can help ministries engage AI thoughtfully in this sensitive and important work.
CAFO President Jedd Medefind opens the episode by sharing why it’s essential for believers to pay attention to the rapid rise of AI—and why the way we choose to engage it truly matters.
Next, Nicholette Antoniuk and Travis Hesson—members of a national working group of organizational leaders and subject-matter experts—share how their own organizations are navigating AI. They reflect on key insights and outcomes from the working group and offer practical steps ministries and individuals can take to approach AI with wisdom and integrity.
This episode isn’t just about maximizing the benefits of AI or avoiding every potential pitfall. It’s about choosing a distinctly Christian posture—one rooted in humility, discernment, and love for the people we are called to serve.
Resources and Guests
Feature Resource: Using AI Wisely and Well: Principles and Guidelines for the CAFO Community
Developed by a working group of leaders in the CAFO community, this booklet serves as some foundational guidance for ethical and effective use of AI tools in child and family-serving organizations. Rooted in both Scripture and child protection principles, it unpacks four key areas related to AI use in organizations including:
Human dignity
Privacy and security
Acceptable use
Accountability & transparency
The resource also includes 10 key questions organizations should consider when implementing AI and offers actionable next steps to develop policies, assess tools, and train staff.
This guide is an essential starting point for any faith-based organization seeking to responsibly integrate AI while upholding the values of compassion, integrity, and care for those they serve.
CAFO Academy offers courses, coaching, and community—curated especially for you.
Wherever you are on your journey of caring for vulnerable children and families, we want to equip you to live out God’s calling wisely and well.
Throughout the year, CAFO offers courses designed to strengthen your communication skills, help you engage churches more effectively, and assess the impact of your work. You can also learn at your own pace with on-demand courses like More Than Enough Essentials and Telling Your Story!
Jedd Medefind loves journeying life with his wife, Rachel. He relishes wrestling matches with his five children—Siena, Marin, Eden, Lincoln, and Phoebe. Most of all, he desires to reflect the heart of Jesus Christ in all of life.
Jedd has seen (and experienced!) that lives are turned upside-down when Christians begin to reflect God’s heart through adoption, foster care and service to orphans worldwide. This kind of love transforms not only vulnerable children, but also those who open hearts and homes to them. Churches begin to look different, too, as the entire community pulls together for children who’ve known great hurt. Finally, the change touches even onlookers, who encounter the Gospel not only in words, but made visible before their eyes.
Desiring to spur this kind of transformation through the Church, Jedd serves as President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.
Through CAFO, more than 225 respected organizations unite in shared initiatives, along with a wide network of churches. CAFO’s membership works in tandem to inspire and equip families, churches and organizations for effective service to vulnerable children and families — from adoption and US foster care, to aid and empowerment programs worldwide.
Prior to his this role, Jedd served in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, leading the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In this post, he oversaw reform efforts across the government to make community- and faith-based groups central partners in all Federal efforts to aid the needy, from prisoner reentry to global AIDS. As described by the Harvard Political Review, these reforms “fundamentally changed the government’s strategy for improving the lives of the downtrodden…”
Previously, Jedd held a range of posts in the California State Legislature. He also helped establish the California Community Renewal Project, which strengthens nonprofits in some of the state’s most challenged communities. He has worked, studied and served in more than thirty countries, with organizations ranging from Price-Waterhouse in Moscow to Christian Life Bangladesh.
Books written by Jedd include Upended and Four Souls. He also writes articles and op-eds for publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post to Comment Magazine, and engages radio interviews with both faith-based and mainstream outlets, from NPR and Al Jazeera to Moody Radio. Jedd’s most recent book, Becoming Home, offers a brief-yet-rich exploration of how families and communities can embrace vulnerable children with wisdom and love through adoption, foster care, mentoring and more.
Nicholette Antoniuk | Five18
As Chief Program Officer at Five18, Nicholette Antoniuk leads strategy and vision for children and caregivers services across Central Virginia. With an MBA in Healthcare Management, she spent years managing a small biotech business before shifting her focus to family care and ministry. In 2017, she and her husband entered full-time ministry, later relocating to Lynchburg, VA to join Patrick Henry Family Services — now FIVE18 Family Services. In her role, Nicholette collaborates with community partners to strengthen families, and facilitates trauma-informed training programs — such as the Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) — to support and equip regional nonprofit leaders. Guided by Romans 8:28 and 1 Timothy 5:8, she commits to fostering strong families, future leaders, and lasting change.
Nicholette is deeply involved in Blue Ridge Community Church’s worship, service, and discipleship programs. She serves on the board of the Central Virginia Academy for Nonprofit Excellence (CVANE). She and her husband enjoy raising three children and a lively bunch of pets, and engaging in board games, hiking, or creative projects. In 2022, she published her first children’s book, a tribute to the autism community. Find her on linkedin.
Travis Hesson | Back2Back
Travis Hesson is a technology professional with more than two decades of hands-on experience building and leading IT systems and service operations across diverse organizations. His career includes roles from help-desk and field engineering support through to IT leadership—most recently serving as Director of Information Technology at Back2Back Ministries.
Since 2008, Travis has cultivated a heartfelt passion for the wellbeing of children without families—an early commitment that grew stronger upon joining Back2Back. At Back2Back, he not only directs infrastructure and systems to support mission-critical operations but is deeply invested in creating environments where vulnerable children and orphans receive holistic care and hope.
Travis holds a Bachelor of Science in General Ministry (2015) from Cincinnati Christian University, and he brings to his technology leadership a values-driven perspective focused on service, stewardship, and sustainable growth.
Jason Weber | Host
Jason Weber and his wife, Trisha, have been speaking up on behalf of the marginalized for over 25 years. Jason has written and helped to produce several books and other tools, including Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn, a 2018 ECPA Christian Book Award finalist and Until There’s More Than Enough. Jason has been a regular columnist for Fostering Families Today magazine and is the host of the More Than Enough Podcast, which highlights the work of national foster care advocates. Jason serves with the Christian Alliance for Orphans and helps lead More Than Enough, a collaborative movement facilitated by the CAFO community. Jason and his family live in Plano, Texas.
