About Need Him

In 1996, George Barna released a report stating that up to 36% of a Christian radio or television audience had not accepted Christ. As a result of this report, several ministries came together and discussed using 60-second radio spots to present a clear, concise, and culturally relevant Gospel message as well as a toll free number for listeners to respond.

That vision became reality in 1997 when the first spots were run on five radio stations. As a result of God’s hand moving in the lives of listeners, 500 people came to Christ.

Since those first radio spots in 1997, Need Him has received over 800,000 calls and presented the Gospel to over 70,000 people. The radio spots are heard on over 1200 radio and TV stations, and the 888-NEEDHIM is displayed in countless printed formats. In addition, Need Him has become more than just phone calls. Each year the www.NeedHim.org website receives 4 million visits, and our volunteers respond to over 10,000 emails and 12,000 instant message chats about Christ from all over the world!

Until February 2000, volunteers who logged on to the network from home answered all calls. However, the need for a call center became obvious as the responses continued to grow, and Need Him opened its first answer center. Volunteers can still take calls from home using our internet system.

Need Him works together with Luis Palau, American Tract Society, Hope for the Heart, Jesus Video, Campus Crusade for Christ, Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, National Day of Prayer and Moody Broadcasting. The borders of Need Him continue to expand as we seek to tell more and more people about Jesus.

In a culture where anonymity is prized, we offer a place for people to turn where they can find real answers without real confrontation. At the present time, we have over 130 volunteers who donate 1-2 hours a week to the Lord by answering calls. Many of them have come to Need Him knowing that they need to share the Gospel, but have never done so. They usually experience some fear before taking that first call, but after prayer, encouragement, and role-playing, they are able to overcome their fear. Nothing can take away the fear of sharing the Gospel more than sharing the Gospel. Here at Need Him, they’re learning and people are listening.

There are many times when we wonder who is more blessed by Need Him: the caller who comes to Christ, or the volunteer who leads them. We’ve seen many volunteers leave with tears of joy and a deep sense of being used by God.

Need Him is not a prayer line or a counseling center. We are an evangelism center, "to intentionally present the gospel." We praise the Lord that Need Him's mission is being accomplished as we prayerfully continue to introduce people to Christ who NEED HIM.