IF you wanted to talk to a church minister, would you know where to go? For increasing numbers of people today, the answer would be 'no'.

To tackle that problem, several clergy in the Okehampton area have launched a new initiative called, Life Pastors.

The Rev David Muir, the newly appointed Pioneer Minister for Okehampton and area said: 'Many people feel they would like to have the opportunity to talk about life issues with a Christian minister but don't know how to make contact. Life Pastors is about making the clergy more accessible to ordinary people.

'It's a bit like "Street Doctor" on the TV. It's bringing the kind of help and advice you usually have to go and find, to people where they are on the street.'

So for the last few months, some of the clergy have been available in and around St James' Church on Market Saturday mornings. Amid the bustle of the market, they are willing to listen to people and to chat.

Life Pastors is the brainchild of the Rector of All Saints, Okehampton, the Rev Stephen Cook. When asked about the name, he said, 'It's about the issues of life. It's not really about religion, or trying to get more people into our churches. And I promise we won't launch into earnest prayers for people either! We are just there to meet people and to talk with them about whatever is on their heart, without being all churchy and religious about it.'

From November onwards, Life Pastors will be available on the first and third Saturdays of each month. People can pick up a leaflet about Life Pastors at St James' Church, which is always open during the day.