You are not alone
Whatever you're carrying tonight, you are not beyond help and you are not a burden. God is near to the brokenhearted — and He very often shows up through people who are ready to answer the phone right now.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
Reach a real person at The Net
Ask Pastor Rob is an AI — but the church behind it is full of real people who care about you. Send a note through thenet.org/contact, share what's going on at thenet.org/pray-for-me, email info@thenet.org, or come find us in person: Sundays at 10:30 AM, the Stone Center at Campus 805, 2620 Clinton Ave W, Huntsville. Whatever you're carrying, you're welcome exactly as you are.
How Ask Pastor Rob handles moments of crisis
We publish this so anyone can see what happens:
- Detection. Every message is automatically screened — by keyword matching and an AI classifier — for signs of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, violence toward others, or abuse.
- Response. When a conversation shows those signs, the assistant immediately shows the resources above, keeps talking with care rather than ending the conversation, never provides information that could facilitate harm, and encourages connection with a real person.
- Human review. Flagged conversations are reviewed by designated safety officers at the church. Where someone appears to be in imminent danger, we may involve emergency services. Alabama law requires clergy to report suspected child abuse, and we will.
- Not a substitute. The AI is not a counselor and is never a substitute for professional mental-health care or for the church's real pastoral team.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18