May 2009 - Evangelicals Now - Christian Newspaper

These days many people seek answers to life’s questions on the internet. Looking for God is a ministry for Christ which taps into this modern phenomenon.

Looking for God is a website accessed through a Google search when buzz words like ‘God’, ‘peace,’ ‘faith’, etc. are typed in. The aim of the website is to draw people to consider Christianity.

The umbrella organisation is a French group called ‘Top Mission’ which runs a server in Switzerland. Looking for God is simply the English version hosted by United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) in Stoke-on-Trent. But there are many other versions in different languages, including Chinese and Arabic.

Losing inhibitions

EN was able to talk recently to Henryk Krol who heads the Polish version of the outreach. Its website http://www.szukajacboga.pl receives around 1,000 hits per day and Henryk is very enthusiastic about the possibilities. He believes that, as a consequence of the anonymity of the internet, people’s natural inhibitions disappear as they surf the web. This, of course, has its bad side, but there are positives.

People are prepared to ask questions and share very personal problems which they would be afraid to air in face-to-face conversations because of social constraints. Certainly religion is a taboo subject of conversation these days for many in the real world. But with the anonymity of the internet people feel able to express themselves much more freely and openly. Henryk recommends the book by Dutchman Peter Scheele, Why? Question-driven coaching, where all this is explained.

Making contact

From the 1,000 hits which szukajacboga.pl receives daily, around 130-140 press a key to ‘accept Jesus’. ‘Of course, this is very superficial’, admits Henryk, ‘and could mean anything.’ But what is interesting is what happens next. From those 130-140, about 20-25 ask to be followed up through anonymous email contact. Approximately 50% of these go on to work through an interactive Bible course titled Why Jesus? And then 50% again actually ask to meet up with someone in real life to find fellowship and further discipleship. It is at this last level that there is evidence that something valuable has happened and that people have either turned to Christ or are at least seeking him seriously.

Geared up

‘How many ministries do you know which are producing five or six converts or serious seekers a day?’ asks Henryk. One of Henryk’s difficulties is finding enough churches in Poland who are geared up to handle this amount of response.

As an aside, Henryk comments that the Arabic version of Looking for God receives around 4,000 hits a day.

This ministry costs money. To continue the link to the Google search costs something like US$1,500 a month for the Polish operation.

e-coaches

In many ways the key to the success of Looking for God is the availability and commitment of Christians who are willing to interact with the seekers over the internet. Henryk refers to these Christians as ‘e-coaches’. A whole army of such people is needed for the follow up.

The word ‘coaches’ is deliberately chosen to describe the kind of people required and what they do in linking up with enquirers. ‘They are not pastors’, says Henryk, ‘for they are not talking to people in church’. ‘They are not evangelists’, he continues, ‘for an evangelist refers everything to Christ and to God’s word and these people are often not ready for that yet.

‘The coach gives person-to-person attention. He wants to bring people to God but is prepared to go down to the level where they are. He wants to find out where they are by asking intelligent questions.’

New lease of life

Interestingly, being involved as an e-coach has re-ignited the spiritual lives of many Christians.

‘In church, many people stagnate’, claims Henryk. He is talking especially about Christians who are quiet people, who lack courage and find it hard to witness in real life. ‘But here, given the anonymity of the internet, they find the opportunity to be useful’, says Henryk. ‘They get involved with people. They listen to them. They pray about their problems. They ask others and research Scripture for answers. They really start growing.’ So this whole venture is not only reaching out to thousands but also giving many people in the pews a new lease of life. ‘One woman e-coach I know’, adds Henryk, ‘recently told me that for the first time in her Christian life she knows what it is to pray without ceasing.’

People and problems

There are many different types of people who access Looking for God and many of them come with all kinds of baggage and personal problems.

‘In the Polish context’, says Henryk, ‘given that it’s a Catholic country, the most frequent scenario which leads people to szukajacboga.pl is loss of faith. They say things like, “Once I was a believer, but now I am far away from God. I would like to be back with God, but when I pray there is no response”.’ Others who hit the szukajacboga.pl website have substantial family problems. Often they are people caught up in love triangles and feeling guilty about adultery. There are many hits too from homosexuals who see themselves as on the way to hell with no hope and are seeking help. Others are depressed and lonely. The anonymity of the system assists such people and, of course, they can take the contact as far as they like. They are free to continue or pull out at any time.

But many find it difficult to disconnect simply because they find the internet relationship so helpful. Henryk relates that many e-coaches find themselves being told, ‘You are the first person who has ever really cared for me’.

John Benton

In the UK, Looking for God is hosted by UCB radio under Ian Mackie. For further information see http://www.lookingforgod.com

Surfing for God