Pioneer of Online Christian Chat Hangs Up His Mouse!

By James Cantril
Special to ASSIST News Service

Roy Clarke

STOKE-ON-TRENT, UK (ANS) -- The founder of one of the UK's longest established and busiest online Christian chat sites has decided to retire from the ministry after a decade of seeing the unsaved coming to Christ, backsliders being restored and broken lives being rebuilt.

These, along with the marriages of people who met online, have been just some of the daily good news stories at ChristianChat.co.uk that have grown from a vision that Roy Clarke had in the mid 1990's for a friendly and safe place for Christians and non-Christians to meet online.

Since then the site has grown into one of the busiest online chat site in the UK, with hundreds of people chatting everyday. However, despite its success, the site is still committed to it's original vision and is overseen by a group of volunteer 'monitors' who ensure that chat is kept clean and friendly.

Although there are now a number of chat sites available, ChristianChat.co.uk remains at the cutting edge of technology with the recent introduction of free voice and video chat, making the facilities available to the user more personal whilst retaining the safety aspects of the site.

It was therefore somewhat of a shock that on May 1st, founder and Chief Executive, Roy Clarke announced that he was planning to retire and was actively seeking an individual, ministry or church to take on the baton of the business. However, despite his announcement, after a decade sitting at the cutting edge of internet chat, Roy remains committed to the concept.

"Often we just hear bad news when people talk about online chat rooms," commented Roy. "However, when was the last time you saw unsaved people come into your church and make a commitment of faith? I am amazed when I hear testimonies from our users of how Christian Chat has helped them."

So, with such an obvious desire to see people brought to faith through the internet, is he sad to go? "In some ways it will be sad to retire from Christian Chat, however I believe I will have left a legacy that will continue to bless people through this ministry."

All enquiries about the sale of Christian Chat should be made to Global Christian Chat via email: info@christianchat.co.uk. ~ Pray for Roy Clarkes future