01
Week 1
Preparation & Planning
Review AI ethics guidelines with leadership team
Identify primary use cases (missed calls, scheduling, FAQs)
Gather church information: service times, staff contacts, programs
Create a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions
Schedule kickoff meeting with ShepherdAI onboarding team
Assign a project champion from your staff or leadership
02
Week 2
Configuration & Customization
Complete ShepherdAI account setup and profile
Configure church branding, logo, and color palette
Input service times, events, and church calendar
Upload staff directory and contact information
Customize AI responses to match your church's voice and tone
Set up calendar integrations for appointment booking
Configure phone number forwarding settings
Test AI responses with a set of sample scenarios
03
Week 3
Training & Testing
Train staff and key volunteers on the ShepherdAI dashboard
Review escalation protocols — who gets alerted and when
Conduct test calls covering a range of real-world scenarios
Refine AI responses based on test results and feedback
Create a staff quick-reference guide for common questions
Set up notification and alert preferences for your team
Test emergency and crisis escalation workflows thoroughly
04
Week 4
Launch & Communication
Announce ShepherdAI to your congregation from the pulpit
Update your website with new 24/7 contact information
Send an email to members explaining the new service
Post on social media about round-the-clock availability
Update your voicemail greeting to reflect ShepherdAI
Go live with ShepherdAI across all contact channels
Monitor the first week closely and log any edge cases
Schedule a 30-day review meeting with your team
Ongoing Maintenance
After launch — keep ShepherdAI sharp and current
Weekly: Review conversation logs and missed escalations
Weekly: Check for unanswered or poorly handled inquiries
Monthly: Update FAQs and responses based on new patterns
Monthly: Review calendar and event information for accuracy
Quarterly: Reassess AI tone, voice, and response quality
Quarterly: Share an update with leadership on AI impact
Annually: Full audit of ShepherdAI settings and workflows
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