The use of artificial intelligence technology in church ministry could have great potential in enhancing evangelism, quickly tracking and deepening theological education and the super-recharged church administration, but “it’s not the Holy Spirit,” Adrian Adams, executive director of Focus Team Leadership Training, spoke on May 21 at the 13th African Evangelical Association (AEA) General Assembly.
Adams highlighted the rapidly changing landscape across Africa, characterized by urbanization, demographic changes, increased connectivity and complex challenges. He raised important questions to African churches. How will technology and innovation respond loyal and effectively as we reconstruct our world? ”
His questions arise from observing that many grassroots leaders face a major gap in accessing “relevant, robust, contextualized theological education and resources.” He emphasized that innovation and technology should serve the church’s timeless mission and not distractions.
Using these tools, Adams focused on making theological knowledge more accessible to grassroots leaders. Keep an eye on the inherent strengths of African churches – enormous resilience, deep faith, and strong community bonds – Adams proposed innovation, “finding new and effective ways to equip our leaders, strengthen our communities, and faithfully share the gospel.”
As part of his doctoral studies, Adams spoke about how he used AI with leaders of grassroots churches in Southeast Africa to process the “huge amounts of data” expected from interviews and focus groups. Recorded conversations were transcribed using AI-powered tools. “Instead of typing every word spoken in words, I did that using AI. It took a lot of time away,” Adams said. This process significantly increased efficiency and allowed for the “what is used to take days can be done in minutes” task.
The AI platform also provided “a map of data that highlights potential areas” that helps Adams and his research colleagues “identify repetitive themes, key phrases, or patterns across multiple conversations to analyze data.
“When we sat down and had a conversation in the morning… we fed all that information to the (AI platform) and we were able to come up with four important themes that we could discuss the crisis within their own local context,” explained Adams, who studies conflict response.
Another AI translation tool quickly understood phrases in local languages and helped the team “get the context of what the conversation is” while working with the translator.
Adams emphasized that while AI has increased efficiency, it “is not a replacement for actual listening, personal connections that took place… or our own critical thinking and contextual understanding to interpret what is shared.”
He emphasizes the absolute necessity of human surveillance, calling AI “co-pilots” while humans remain “pilot guides and modifications.” “AI makes mistakes,” he warned, noting that analysis is sometimes shallow and translations need validation.
Provincial AI applications expansion
Beyond research fields, Adams further explored how AI and technology can serve the Church widely. He mentioned the World Evangelical Association (WEA) bots that use AI to process the vast amount of information generated by large global gatherings.
By feeding AI systems for session feedback, speaker notes, and recordings, the goal is to “quickly spread important findings, insights, decisions, and themes to global leaders,” and to enable potentially faster decision-making and knowledge sharing among the events themselves. This allows leadership to “get a better understanding of the various inputs and gain understanding to fit the network.”
AI can also help create contextualized training programs and monitor and analyze mega church membership engagement. This will generate reports for discussion and help the church become “more effective and accurate” by strengthening the operation while focusing on “relationship and spiritual growth.”
Adams’s work applies AI to make complex theological concepts accessible. He explained that he trains AI bots with reliable Bible commentary and trustworthy biblical commentary and resources to analyze the Bible, providing context, translation, understanding of the original text, and impacts a wide range of viewers.
He said, “Let me say this right now, this is not the Holy Spirit, it is an instrument.” He explained that it helps to a deeper understanding of the Bible and helps quickly gather extensive information that can take several hours manually.
Adams outlined the practical use of AI and digital technologies in ministry areas, including evangelism, including basic follow-ups such as social groups for sharing messages and inviting online discussions, and managing contacts with WhatsApp Business.
Monitoring online conversations may provide insight into the needs of the community. But Adams gave strong attention: “The art of evangelism must always be a tool that leads to real human connections, relationships, and disciples. It is an entrance and exit. It is not a destination.”
Custom-trained AI bots for Bible analysis serve as a model to make complex theology understandable and relevant, Adams explained.
Adams said better management using technology will “reduce burnout, increase efficiency, enable leaders and volunteers to spend more time with people, improve and actually work by ministries.” While acknowledging that it may seem “unspiritual,” he argued that “effective management is essential for effective ministries.”
Opportunities, challenges, guardrails
Looking ahead, Adams outlined opportunities for African leaders in developing contextually relevant digital ministry, increasing reach, strengthening leadership power and building resilient ministry structures.
However, important challenges continue to exist, such as access to “reliable electricity, constant internet connections, and affordable devices.” Digital literacy varies and requires a “deliberate investment in training and support.” Adams said that data privacy, AI bias and ethical questions about “maintaining (maintaining) and “maining (maining)” should be addressed.
Importantly, there is the challenge that technology “strengthens and does not erode the relational foundations of Africa’s Christianity, face-to-face community, personal care and shared living.”
Adams has provided five guidelines for the thoughtful application of technology. Ask if technology truly helps you on your mission before adoption, try the tools for your specific needs, learn from mistakes, focus on training leaders and members, technology simply shares learning and mistakes, shares with others, and guides faith and the Bible to use technology.
In conclusion, Adams reiterated that technology and AI are “tools” provided by God for “wise custodians.” They “have to serve missions, strengthen relationships, and help us to be better stewards of resources.”
He urged leaders to constantly ask: “In my context, how does this tool help me fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandments?”
Engaging with technology in ministry requires focusing on prayer, wisdom and serving God and his people, Adams said.
