Build AI That Serves the Church

Open to individuals 18 or older, anywhere in the world where participation is legal.

Every project must be built with AI — for example using an AI building tool like Lovable or Claude — or clearly feature the use of AI in what it does, such as an agent, chat, or content creation. If AI isn't part of how the project was made or how it works, it isn't eligible.

This is a fully online event. There is no in-person component and no travel is required.

Participate solo or in a team of any size. Each person may be on only one team, and each team may submit only one project. Each submission competes in exactly one track. Solo entrants are a team of one.

The build window is October 30, 2026 through November 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Entirely new standalone projects created during this window are preferred. You are also welcome to build tools or features that are part of a project that existed before the build window. Only work completed during the build window is eligible for judging, not the broader existing project or work completed beforehand. Registration and team formation may happen before October 30.

A project name, written description, the track you're entering, a demo video (5 minutes max, hosted on YouTube, Vimeo or Loom), and optionally a live demo link and code repository. If your entry is a tool or feature within an existing project, clearly identify what you built during the October 30–November 27 build window and distinguish it from pre-existing work in your description and demo.

Your submission must be your team's own work. Use of open-source code, libraries, APIs and AI coding tools is allowed, as long as you follow their licenses and terms.

Projects must not be harmful, deceptive, hateful, sexually explicit, or designed to manipulate people. Projects should reflect care for people and respect for Scripture.

Do not use real personal information of church members or congregants in your demo. Use sample or anonymized data.

You keep full ownership of your project and intellectual property. By entering, you allow AI for Church to feature your project name, description, images and demo video when promoting the hackathon and its results.

All submissions must be submitted by November 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Submissions lock automatically at the deadline.

All prizes except People's Choice and Hacker's Choice are decided by a panel of judges using the published criteria. Judges evaluate only work completed between October 30 and November 27, 2026. For tools or features within existing projects, the broader project and work completed before the build window will not be judged. Judges' decisions are final. Winners are announced and prizes awarded on December 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET.

People's Choice is decided by public vote: anyone with a free AI for Church account gets one vote. Hacker's Choice is decided by participants: each member of a team with a submitted project gets one vote and may not vote for their own team's project. Votes can be changed while voting is open. Vote buying, fake accounts or other manipulation will lead to disqualification.

Prize amounts are subject to change before the event. Winners must respond within 14 days and may need to complete tax forms to receive prizes. Team prizes are paid to the team captain to distribute.

We may disqualify any entry that breaks these rules, is submitted late, or engages in cheating or abuse of the event.