Groundwire Ministry
| Groundwire Ministry | |
|---|---|
| File:Groundwire Logo.webp | |
| Type | Reformed |
| Scripture | Bible |
| President | Sean Dunn |
| Region | Worldwide |
| Language | English, Spanish |
| Founder | Sean Dunn |
| Origin | 15th July 2004 |
| Other name(s) | Groundwire, Groundwire Chat, JesusCares |
| Official website | Groundwire Ministry |
Groundwire Ministry is an international Evangelical Christian discipleship, Christian humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization. It prefers to present itself as interdenominational and also employs staff from non-evangelical Christian denominations. It was founded in the 1990s by Sean Dunn, as an extension of his Champion Ministries.[1]
It is a media and technology-based ministry where people can come online in an instant message format (Live Chat) to speak with a trained coach.[1] Groundwire is a safe and confidential way for people to communicate their needs, ask for prayers and receive resources.
Groundwire Chat is also an online service where they help people with their spiritual and emotional needs.
Groundwire is an international ministry aimed at broadcasting hope to millennials all over the world.[1] More than 65,000 people a month come to Groundwire seeking help; Groundwire has chat traffic over 8 million a year. Groundwire Ministry is also called JesusCares. [2]
[3]
History
Groundwire Ministry was founded in 2004 by Sean Dunn and co-founders Dan Yeazel and Jamison Brown in the USA.
In 2004, Sean Dunn hired a group of computer programmers and developed a software application called EchoGlobal that enables volunteer coaches to chat with people and fulfill their needs. Sean Dunn paid three-quarters of his allowance and developed the software. Co-founders Dan Yeazel and Jamison Brown also helped Dunn with the formation of the ministry. Dan Yeazel, a pastor, provided Dunn full support from his church. Jamison Brown, Dan Yeazel's son, helped his father provide money and support. Sean Dunn built a group of volunteer coaches who were able to be available to encourage, support, help, and fulfill the needs of those they chatted with. During 2004, Sean Dunn had a group of 576 volunteer coaches for encouraging, supporting, helping, and fulfilling the needs of those they chatted with.
During 2004 and 2010, 6.3 million people came online to Groundwire to seek encouragement, support, and help; the group of volunteer coaches increased from 576 to 2523 volunteer coaches. Since 2010, Groundwire Ministry has started visiting houses to share the Gospel, support, and encouragement with people. During 2010 and 2018, more than 19 million people came online to Groundwire to seek encouragement, support, and help; the group of volunteer coaches increased from 2523 to 6431 volunteers. In 2020, more than 1 million people came online to Groundwire to seek help, and the group of volunteer coaches increased from 6431 to 7900 volunteer coaches.[citation needed]
Beliefs
Groundwire Ministry's volunteer coaches come from a range of Christian denominations. Its volunteer coaches include followers of Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. Around the world, its volunteer coaches include followers of different religions or none. Its volunteer coaches participate in daily chat services. They stress that one can be a Christian in any culture.
Reactions
Alon Banks, on the National Network of Youth Ministries site, wrote: "Through buying time on influential TV stations (MTV, VH1, BET) and radio outlets (hip-hop, country, rock), these Christ-centered commercials take light into the midst of darkness."[4]
Religion News Service announced an outreach and fundraising campaign by Groundwire, writing: "The groundbreaking #JesusCares campaign provides an easy way for Christians to come together and promote a salvation message video and the opportunity for their friends and followers to chat live online with one of Groundwire’s spiritual coaches. Groundwire is the only ministry that offers a 24-hour-per-day, 7-day-a-week live chat opportunity with trained spiritual coaches." [5]
Mike McGee, in Manna Express wrote of Groundwire's ads: "They’re beautifully produced but simple: twentysomething guys hanging out in a restored classic car, while one kid watches despondently from a distance. A girl living the popular life cuts class to sob alone in the high-school bathroom."[1]
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 McGee, Mike (guest writer) (13 March 2013). "Groundwire Spreads the Gospel to Hurting Youths Online". Manna Express. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ↑ https://www.groundwire.net/about-us
- ↑ https://www.jesuscares.com/about
- ↑ Banks, Alon (January 19, 2011). "Groundwire". NNYM - National Network of Youth Ministries. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ↑ "Groundwire calls Christians to go #Unselfie to spread message of Jesus' love". Religion News Service. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
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