Navigating Ethical Challenges in the Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Evangelism in Nigeria

Evangelism is vital to the church's timely outreach to the world and its continued vitality in this evolving era. Modern technology has advanced in a way that God has specifically planned to help the church spread the gospel. As a result, using artificial intelligence (AI) tools can enhance evangelism and make believers more efficient in their evangelistic outreach; but, the ethical consequences of doing so must be carefully considered. This study looks at various ethical concerns and possible benefits of using AI as a tool for effective evangelism. Review method was adopted and the study's theoretical framework was social Exchange Theory in Social Work. The study shows that Artificial intelligence (AI) offers potential benefits for global evangelism, enabling faster and more widespread communication. However, AI has significant limitations compared to human messengers in evangelism. These include: Lack of physical presence, Inability to contextualize the gospel message, Limited capacity to identify appropriate redemptive analogy, Difficulty in discerning recipients' deeper needs and absence of genuine emotion and love, which are crucial in evangelism. The study concludes that without proper consideration of ethical concerns, particularly cultural sensitivity, AI can potentially distort or impede the intended message. This may result in partial or complete misunderstanding by the receiver due to cultural differences. It was recommended that the church should use artificial intelligence with cultural sensitivity, and that technology should support human interaction, which is essential to meaningful spiritual growth, rather than take its place.