As missionaries to cyberspace, Maureen and I are always looking for practical ways to use technology to reach people with the truth of God’s Word. One of our newest projects is the development of an AI-powered chatbot for Baptist.org.
The chatbot is being trained to answer questions using the information already available on Baptist.org. Visitors can ask about salvation, Bible doctrine, Christian living, our ministry, and the resources available through the website. It is instructed to use the King James Version and to answer from a conservative, Independent Baptist perspective. It must not invent facts or present uncertain information as truth. When someone asks how to be saved, its most important task is to explain the Gospel clearly: that salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not by baptism, church membership, good works, or religious ceremonies.
This project requires much more than simply adding a chat box. I have been organizing website information, writing special knowledge material, testing answers, correcting weaknesses, and adjusting the system so it can find the right information. I also review conversations to identify questions the chatbot could not answer properly. That helps me improve its instructions and add reliable material for future visitors.
A similar chatbot is now being used on the website of a local Independent Baptist church. There it can provide accurate, church-specific information such as service times, meeting details, online broadcast links, and basic ministry information. It is also prepared to answer Bible questions and share the plan of salvation.
Because visitors arrive from many backgrounds, the chatbot is also directed to respond patiently, respectfully, and plainly. It can guide people to relevant pages and invite them to ask further questions freely.
These chatbots do not replace the pastor, the local church, personal soul winning, or careful Bible study. They are tools that remain available day and night, ready to help a visitor take the next step. My goal is to make them dependable, doctrinally sound, and useful while using modern technology to point people toward the unchanging Word of God and the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
