By Prof Oyewole Sarumi
As I write this piece, my heart bleeds because of the ways and manners our church leaders are demonising Artificial Intelligence.
For those who know history, we should remember that it was the early Christian fathers in 1500s that first embraced the printing technology that Gutenberg invented in 1450 to reduce the burden of carrying scrolls around.
The first evangelical tracts were produced through the new technology then, and assisted in no small measures the spreading of the Gospel to the then world.
Why are supposedly enlightened and well read church leaders especially in Africa calling AI the devil’s tool? They have given all sorts of reasons why it so, but they all don’t measure when weighed in the crucible of history, inventions and the present post modern world.
I like to put on record as couple of church leaders in Nigeria who have embraced AI and are using it positively to spread the gospel.
May the Lord bless them, but they need to go further by educating their ministers and the entire body of Christ in Nigeria and Africa that AI is an augmented tool, just like when computers first came into the scene.
Today computers are being used for both good and evil, ditto for AI, it depends on the user, the dataset used to train the GenAI and it’s eventual usage (aka deepfakes or synthetic media).
Let there be clarity in the mind of today’s ministers of the gospel that in today’s fast-moving digital age, “Artificial Intelligence” or AI is no longer just a buzzword among scientists or tech experts. It’s already embedded in our daily lives — from the voice assistants on our phones to the recommendations we get when shopping online like hotel reservation and booking for uber/Bolt or other e-hailing rides.
But what exactly is AI, and why should every Ministers of the Gospel and Christians, regardless of age or background, understand and embrace it now before it is too late? I posit that playing catchup will be costlier and maybe eventually left behind due to the inability to cope.
This article is a guide to understanding what AI is, how it works, the types of AI that exist (including exciting new tools like Generative AI), and what Christians and the leaders can do to become a future-ready, AI-Ready church and Nigeria
What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
AI refers to a machine or software’s ability to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence — like understanding speech, recognising images, solving problems, or making decisions.
To break it down simply:
Artificial Intelligence is the umbrella term for machines doing smart tasks.
Machine Learning (ML) is a branch of AI where machines learn from data.
Deep Learning (DL) is a powerful form of ML that uses layered neural networks, often found in facial recognition and voice assistants like Siri or Akexa.
Why must Christians care about AI?
We are living through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and AI is at its core — transforming how we live, work, and interact. From healthcare and education to agriculture, finance, and manufacturing, AI is already reshaping world’s economic landscape and Nigeria and the church is no exception, even though we can keep denying it.
The fact is this: AI isn’t just about robots or automation. It’s about productivity, innovation, smarter decision-making and efficiency.
I believe that AI is the Church’s golden opportunity to:
Boost global competitiveness
Solve real-world problems
Enhance public services
Create high-value jobs
Raise our standard of living
The key is not if we should adopt AI, but how we can do so ethically, inclusively, and strategically.
A quick history of AI
1950s: Alan Turing proposes the “Turing Test” to evaluate machine intelligence.
1997: IBM’s Deep Blue beats world chess champion Garry Kasparov.
2011: IBM Watson wins Jeopardy!, showcasing language processing power.
2016: Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeats a world Go champion — an unthinkable feat due to the game’s complexity.
Today, AI powers everything from ChatGPT and Deepseek to Netflix recommendations and medical diagnostics.
The key is not if we should adopt AI, but how we can do so ethically, inclusively, and strategically.
The key is not if we should adopt AI, but how we can do so ethically, inclusively, and strategically.
The 4 types of AI you should know
- Narrow AI (Weak AI)
Does one thing really well (e.g. voice assistants, spam filters).
Status: Already here.
- General AI (Strong AI/AGI)
Can perform any intellectual task a human can.
Can reason, learn, adapt, and even be self-aware.
Status: Not yet developed, but in research.
- Generative AI
Creates content like text, images, music, and videos.
Examples: ChatGPT (text), Deepseek (text), KlingAI (video), Huawei Cloud AI music.
Status: Widely available and rapidly improving.
Note: Generative AI is still a form of Narrow AI — it’s powerful but not self-aware or general-purpose.
- Superintelligent AI (theoretical)
AI that surpasses human intelligence in all aspects.
Status: Hypothetical and decades away — if ever.
How AI works: The basics
AI systems depend heavily on data:
- Collect Data — From users, devices, sensors, etc.
- Train Models — Using algorithms to find patterns and make decisions.
- Algorithms include:
- Supervised Learning (with labelled data)
- Unsupervised Learning (without labels)
- Reinforcement Learning (learning from trial and error)
- Improve — AI gets better over time through feedback and more data.
Core Components of AI
- Machine Learning – Learns from experience (data)
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) – Understands and speaks human language
- Computer Vision – Understands images and videos
- Robotics – Moves and manipulates objects
- Expert Systems – Mimics decisions of human experts
Real-world applications of AI in the Church and the World
- Healthcare: Early disease detection, medical imaging, virtual assistants
- Education: Personalised learning, smart grading, AI tutors
- Finance: Fraud detection, robo-advisors, automated trading
- Manufacturing: Predictive maintenance, quality control
- Daily Life: Smart homes, AI language translators, traffic management
Benefits of AI for Churches and Christians
AI is often associated with technological advancements in business and healthcare etc. AI has also started to make its mark in religious communities, offering new possibilities and
opportunities for pastors to enhance their ministry. These benefits include:
- A Writing Accelerator
- Better Decision Making
- Personalization
- Thought Leadership
- Untapped Potential in Discipleship and Ministry
- Availability of Information and Resources
- Save time and reduce Workload
- Offer fresh perspective and new insights
- Reach a broader audience
What AI can do for church leaders and their ministry
The merits of GenAI outweigh it’s demerits, and as a strong advocate of AI use in ministry, the following are key Areas where you can deploy it effectively:
- Writing Assistance
- Creating Educational Materials
- Sermon Enhancement
- Marketing and Outreach
- Administrative Efficiency
- Personalized Pastoral Care & Counselling
- Community Analysis
- Community Engagement and Outreach
- Data Analytics for Decision-Making
- Language Translation and Interpretation
- AI-Powered Communication & Collaboration
- AI and Enhancing Interactive Worship Experiences
- Create devotionals
- Streamlining Event Management
- Facilitating Learning and Development
Nigeria’s and the Church path to becoming an AI powerhouse
Nigeria and the church has a chance to be an AI leader in Sub Saharan Africa. Our strengths:
- Young, tech-savvy population
- Strong digital infrastructure
- Government AI strategy via the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap
- The church is wealthy and has huge fund.
To accelerate progress, Nigeria and the Church must:
- Invest in AI education at all levels
- Encourage public-private-academic partnerships
- pastors and leaders should talk about it’s usefulness while using it.
- Attract and train AI talent
- Promote responsible AI use through laws and ethics by lobbying the government.
Challenges ahead: AI needs guardrails
With all its promise, AI also comes with risks:
- Job displacement — Automation may affect some workers. Note that AI won’t take people’s job, it’s those tare skillful in AI that will take the jobs.
- Bias and fairness — AI can inherit human prejudice from dataset used to train it, so always check it’s output
- Privacy — More data = more responsibility, and the church has huge Data that are not being well used.
- Misinformation — Deepfakes and AI-generated content must be regulated
For the church and her Leadership:
I can feel what you are afraid of, AI is here to stay, let’s not be like ostrich, reaching out to learn is the best.
However, Let me ask: Are you using Google for research, engaging on social media, or even utilizing their smartphones? Yes/No? If your response is in the affirmative, AI is already subtly woven into the fabric of our digital lives, enhancing user experience and efficiency. The key lies in mindful and purposeful use, ensuring that AI serves the mission of the church.
In embracing AI, we are not sidelining the Holy Spirit, we are just inviting a tool that can help us sift through the vast expanse of information and ideas in this age of overwhelming information. Thus, it’s proper use enabling us to craft messages that are both relevant and deeply rooted in our faith. That’s God at work!
While the benefits of AI in the church are evident, it’s important to address potential concerns and ethical considerations.
Church leaders should be cautious about privacy and data security issues when implementing AI systems. It is the responsibility of every church leader to conduct extensive research before introducing and implementing any AI systems into your church’s strategy. Infact, it is advisable talking to an expert consultant, and that may be a valuable investment.
So, what’s the solution if your church venture to use AI? Be selective and start small. Then build a strong AI governance framework, raise AI literacy, and embed ethics into every step of development.
What can you do? AI is for everyone
AI isn’t just for techies or researchers — it’s for you. Here’s how you can get started:
- Learn the Basics — Free courses on Coursera, YouTube, or local universities
- Try AI Tools — Use ChatGPT, DeepSeek, language translators, or smart apps
- Join the conversation — Attend forums, tech expos, or community talks
- Upskill — Young professionals and students can explore AI certifications. There are AI certifications available in the market.
- Power up your AI skill now!
A call to action: AI is not the future — it’s the present
The Church in Nigeria AI revolution depends on more than technology. It needs awareness, inclusivity, and participation — from our homes, churches, schools and businesses to public.
This is your moment to learn, lead, and embrace change. With the right mindset, the church in Nigeria can become a regional leader in ethical, innovative, and human-centric AI.
Let us be AI-ready. Let us shape the future of the Gospel by using AI advantage to reach the unreached — together.
Blessings
