'Spiritual coaching' site launched

Non-Christians are turning to the web for answers about God - according to a charity which is providing online 'spiritual coaching' for those interested in the divine, but not in church.

New spiritual coaching site

Groundwire, an international organisation that has pioneered a successful scheme in the United States, has just launched a new UK site offering the service. Groundwire UK allows anyone to 'chat' online, giving non-belivers the chance to ask any questions about faith and life they may have in a confidential setting – and Christians can receive prayer and coaching too.

The initiative is based in the North West of England, although its volunteers are countrywide.

Matt Rich, who runs Groundwire UK said: "I have seen the need in the UK for live chat with a Christian, 24/7, for a long time - and partnering with a successful mission in the USA was the best way to make this possible.

"The Internet is where more people are going to find answers; chatting online is becoming a very normal way to find out new things. People find the anonymity of this form of communication liberating – allowing them to express their innermost thoughts, fears, concerns and to be more honest than they would be normally be with someone face to face.

"If as Christians we want to be where people are going – then we need to be online ready and available to chat 24/7."

The site is totally upfront about the fact that the spiritual coaches are all Christian, and that true peace can only be found in Jesus. They also encourage people to visit a church local to them wherever possible.

Matt said: "Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for people who don't know Jesus to ask questions and find answers – and to do so from the comfort of their home at whatever time of day or night they have them.

"We are not a professional counselling service – our main purpose is to help people to discover the hope that comes from knowing Jesus and we also want to see them become involved with a local church where they can grow in their faith and meet up with people in the real world and not just the virtual one.

"Many people tell us how much chatting with us has helped them when they had nobody they felt they could talk to. We have seen people becoming Christians, people returning to their faith, returning to church and finding hope when all around seemed hopeless."

Groundwire is looking for more volunteers, who will be taken through a detailed training process before 'chatting' live to people online.