Firstly – welcome to GoHealth. As St Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, all seeds that we plant come to fruition by the grace of God. We know that others planted the seeds of Acorn and watered them over the years. We now have the privilege of tending what has already been sown, trusting God for the growth.
In 1983 Acorn Christian Healing Foundation was founded to offer a place of prayer, compassion, and restoration through God’s healing ministry. For over four decades, thousands of people were trained in various ministries to promote the healing power of the Christian faith. In 2026, following a season of prayerful discernment and by mutual agreement with the Trustees of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation, Acorn formally closed as an independent charity, with its mission and legacy entrusted into the life of The Guild of Health and St Raphael (GoHealth).
We are honoured to receive this work, and to continue nurturing the healing ministry that has been at the heart of Acorn for many years. If you have been part of Acorn, you are very welcome here. We are really proud and humbled to be asked by the Acorn leadership to take on, and we look forward to getting to know you, your experience, and your vocation in the healing ministry.
More than anything, we want to meet anyone who has previously been involved with Acorn. We would love to hear your story and welcome you into what comes next. Please do explore GoHealth and get in touch; we’d love to connect.
I write both as patron of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation and a keen supporter of GoHealth to say how appropriate I feel their merger to be. Their respective histories include many interesting connections, and their aims have much in common. I look forward to a fruitful future, which will build further on the outstanding achievements of both and enable the continuing development of a healing ministry in and through today’s church.
– The Rt Revd James Newcome
If you want to explore GoHealth, navigate to ‘About us‘ to read about our values, our vision and purpose, our theology and history, how we work and the impact we work towards. We have a membership community, offer online courses and training, and gathering online. If you would like a prayer, or to explore how we do prayer, click here.
The Acorn Listening Course
The Listening Course has been a key gift that Acorn gave the world. We know it has been a valued resource over the year, many people leading it and benefitting from it. We will be relaunching it later in the year. As we develop the course and prepare it for launch, we are really keen to connect with anyone who ran the course. If this is you, please do get in touch using the form above (click the yellow button) or join an online welcome event (book below).
As Chair of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation at this time, I thank God guiding Acorn for over 43 years, to provide training for, and delivery of, His healing ministry… As Acorn closes, I am joining the GoHealth Trustee Board, and will continue to seek God’s guidance for us all towards flourishing, as we serve Him in love, hope, compassion and expectation.
– Jessica Johnson, Chair of Acorn Christian Foundation 2025-6
The GoHealth Community
Our conviction is that we heal best in places of connection and belonging – and this is why The GoHealth Community is our core offer. Through training, worship, resources, prayer, and relationships, we help one another grow as healing presences in our churches, workplaces, and communities. As a community, we receive prayer requests through the website and hold them in prayer, and we gather each month to pray, worship, learn, and encourage one another.
We warmly encourage people to join us in our journey to explore how to flourish, and bring with you your experiences and wisdom. We really look forward to welcoming you.
Join an Acorn welcome event
We would love to meet you. Over the coming months we will be hosting a series of informal Zoom gatherings for people connected with Acorn.
- Tuesday 8th September 12:00 – 13:30
- Monday 21st September 19:00 – 20:30
- Tuesday 22nd September 10:30 – 12:00
These sessions will be an opportunity for you to learn more about GoHealth – our vision, community, and activities – and for us to learn more about Acorn, its story, and the people who have helped shape its ministry over the years.
We are particularly keen to meet those who have been involved in developing, teaching, facilitating, or supporting the Listening Course, as we explore how this important work might continue in the future.
Whether you have been involved with Acorn for many years or have only recently connected with its work, you are very welcome. We hope these conversations will help us honour Acorn’s legacy, build new relationships, and discern together how God’s healing ministry can continue to flourish.
Click here to register for an upcoming Zoom gathering.
The Healthy Healing Hub Network
Since 2021, Our Healthy Healing Hub network have been one of the key ways that GoHealth supports churches in offering Christ’s healing ministry within their local communities. Through training, resources, networking, safeguarding support, and ongoing encouragement, we help churches develop sustainable healing ministries that are rooted in prayer, hospitality, and good practice. If you would like to learn more about Healthy Healing Hubs and help us continue to grow, click here.
If you have been involved in an Acorn Healing Hub, we would particularly love to hear from you. Please complete the contact form so that Gillian can get in touch and begin a conversation about your experience, your ministry, and how we might support and connect you as we move forward together.
A little more background
In late 2025, the trustees and CEOs of both charities began a series of conversation to explore the future of Acorn with GoHealth. There conversations were build on a shared vision of the power of the healing ministry, and were held within shared sense of compassion and hope. Those working on this project driven by the hope and desire for God for the healing mission of God to be at the centre of all decisions and at the heart of how we work together. Scroll down to watch a conversation between the CEOs that you might find interesting and encouraging.
In June 2026, GoHealth CEO Dr Gillian Straine met with former directors of Acorn at the Houses of Parliament hosted by The Rt. Revd James Newcomb, President of Acorn. It was a time of listening, and a joining of our collective spirits with the grace of God for what lies ahead.
On behalf of the trustees of GoHealth, I recognise the sadness and pain of any charity closing but in that sadness give thanks to God for the incredible healing work of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation and for the opportunity for that vital work to continue within the GoHealth community.
We are so pleased that Jessica is joining our board from the board of Acorn, as she will bring wonderful new insights to our work and to help integrate the mission of Acorn into the mission of GoHealth.
I am particularly looking forward to going through the Acorn Listening Course with my own church later this year. The world really needs good listeners right now, and Acorn’s ministry of listening and healing will continue on!– Steve Coles, Chair of the GoHealth Trustees
Explore more…
Discover simple ways to begin your journey with GoHealth.
Our Podcast
The GoHealth Podcast brings together voices from across the Christian healing movement, offering inspiration, practical wisdom, and thoughtful conversations that help people grow as healing presences in the world.
Online courses
Through accessible online learning, we equip Christians to explore healing, listening, prayer ministry, chaplaincy, and whole-person wellbeing in both church and everyday life.
The Everyday Healing Course
Everyday Healing equips churches to develop a confident, accessible healing ministry, helping ordinary Christians become healing presences in their communities through prayer, compassion, and practical care.
Join the mailing list
One of the best ways to stay in touch with GoHealth is through our mailing list. You’ll receive updates on training, events, resources, prayer opportunities, new podcast episodes, and developments connected to the Acorn legacy as they emerge. Whether you’re simply curious, looking for encouragement, or exploring deeper involvement, we’d love to keep in touch.