Sanctuary

Returns a short description of Sanctuary: what it is (a free faith companion app and prayer library for people who left the church but did not leave Jesus), who it is for and not for, that it is free on iOS and Android with links to both store listings, the size of the prayer library, who runs it (International Bible Ministries, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with technology by WiscAI), and the crisis resources it points people to. Use when the user asks what Sanctuary is, who made it, whether it is free, or how to get the app. Takes no input.

describe_sanctuary

Looks up scripture prayers in Sanctuary's library (185 prayers in seven topics: betrayal, anger, grief, fear & anxiety, loneliness, shame, doubt) for what a person is feeling. Use when the user asks for a prayer, a Bible passage to pray, or words for a feeling, especially in the context of leaving a church or struggling with faith. Input: the feeling in the user's own words and/or one of the seven topics. Output: up to four prayers, each with its Bible passage (NIV), the prayer text, and a link to that prayer on godismysanctuary.com. If the feeling matches no topic, it returns the list of topics instead. If the text describes suicide or self-harm, it returns crisis resources (988 and Crisis Text Line) instead of a prayer. Sanctuary is not counseling or a crisis service.

find_prayer

Writes a guide to finding a house church, microchurch, dinner church, Alpha course, or church small group to join or start, tailored to what the user has shared. Use when the user asks for help finding a Christian gathering or community, whether after leaving a church, moving, coming to faith, or being between churches. Inputs, all optional: area, faith tradition, life stage, in-person or online, what they want to avoid, and whether they want to join or start a group. Output: where people from that tradition typically look (for example parish groups, denominational networks, house-church directories, Alpha), a checklist of warning signs of high-control groups and signs of a healthy one, and a link to Sanctuary's finder page, where a person can ask for an introduction. It does not search a database of groups, does not return specific groups, addresses, or contact details, and does not assess or comment on any named church or group. If any field describes suicide or self-harm, it returns crisis resources (988 and Crisis Text Line) instead.

get_house_church_guide

Lists the seven topics Sanctuary's prayer library is organized by, each with a one-line description and a link to that topic's page on godismysanctuary.com. Use when the user asks what kinds of prayers Sanctuary has or which topics it covers, or to see the valid topic values before calling find_prayer. Takes no input.

list_prayer_topics