#Adventist! Ministry Channel Guidelines
Forward
Vision Statement
Ministry Information
Rules for Peaceful Chatting
Kick/Ban
Procedure
Ops Requirements
Other Problems
Conclusion
Ministry Team Members (Ops)
Thank you for taking the time to review this document. The purpose of these Channel Guidelines is to help each user of the #Adventist! Ministry Channels become more respectful and considerate of each other and not grieve the Holy Spirit. We ask everyone to abide by these Guidelines in order to allow the flow of this ministry and fellowship with one another.
In the channel #Adventist! we have a Vision. And with this vision, we invite you to become an active participant with us.
We, the Operators (ops) of the #Adventist! Ministry Channels, share the
Good News of Jesus Christ through times of praise, worship, prayer, Bible
studies, fellowship, acceptance, healing, and encouragement. As the last days
draw near, "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" and we need to encourage one
another as much as we need to spread His word into all the world to hasten
Jesus' return! (Matthew 4:17)
Our vision is to spread "The Three Angels' Message" (Revelation 14:6-12) to all
the world; to reach each continent of the world by using the
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) as a tool to further the ministry of God. As
Adventists, we have a big part in helping the Lord complete His mission in this
world. Not only do we need to share the "message" with all our family and
friends, but we also need to share the Truth with those who are seeking, that
they may find, and may learn how to surrender to Christ and obey Him fully as
their Lord and Savior.
Above all, we hope that each individual life entering these channels will be able
to experience love and acceptance that is unconditional knowing that God is
omnipotent and that Jesus Christ's love is everlasting.
Channels within Our Organization
Our ministry operates primarily on the Dalnet network via IRC (instant relay chat). We maintain several channels on dal.net, all of which have our resident bot, GrdnAngel. The Bot comes with a variety of command functions; to review them, click on our GrdnAngel page.
The channels are as follows:
#adventist! - our main channel. This room is available for general chat, questions, and bible study.
#adventist!prayer - our prayer ministry, where the room is devoted to prayer and supplication to God. Formal prayer sessions are moderated by various operators on a fairly consistent basis; however, the room may be used by anyone who desires to step aside into a "quiet place" and pray.
#adventist!study - dedicated to bible study, for those times when it is too disruptive to hold a bible study and still maintain chatter in the primary channel.
#adventist!tech - created for people who have questions navigating through IRC or general computer questions; we have several ops who are adept with computers and will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have.
#adventist!trivia - here the bot will provide questions; you type & enter your answers in the channel. The first person to reach 10 correct answers "wins". The game will start when you enter the room.
How to connect to the #adventist! chat channel
You can connect to the #adventist! chat in several ways:
1. Click here!
2. http://www.dal.net - Go to: "chat now", enter a nickname, and click "GO!" Once the chat window is open type, /join #adventist! and press enter.
3. www.mirc.com is a chat program. You will need to do a little setup like enter a nickname and select a DALnet server, (you can use the above web chats to ask any of us for help), click "connect to server", and once you have connected successfully, type: /join #adventist! and press enter. (This command applies to any of our channels; simply type: /join #adventist!prayer or /join #adventist!study or /join #adventist!tech or /join #adventist!trivia to join the channel of your choice.)
3. Blasphemy
Blasphemy is not allowed in any channel. This will be enforced by a
kick or ban if necessary.
Blasphemy is defined here as:
the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God
the act of claiming the attributes of God,
irreverence toward God
Some Hispanics call themselves "Jesus." And often times when individuals use this as a nick, other Christians are offended by it. Because he/she is using the name of the Lord in vain, some Christians force this person to change his/her nick. Unless this person is disruptive or using all kinds of profanity or saying all kinds of evil, we will not require the person to change his/her nick.
7. Proselytizing/unsolicited/forced sharing
Proselytizing (to recruit visitors/Ops to another faith) and repeated,
unsolicited sharing of religious beliefs is not allowed. This especially
refers to beliefs that are not consistent with the 28 Seventh-Day Adventist
fundamental beliefs. "God does not force any man into
His service. Every soul must decide for himself whether or not he will fall on
the Rock and be broken." {Ellen White, Review and Herald, Dec. 24,
1889} There may be times that an individual
is asked more about what he or she believes and why. Only then is sharing
of non-Adventist beliefs permitted. Please take such conversations to
private channels.
10. Advertising
Please do not advertise chat channels or web
pages on DALnet #Adventist!. If you would like to promote your site or channel,
you may do so in a private chat with those who may be interested.
11. Discussions, Debates, Arguments
We allow discussion of the scriptures. However,
to preserve peace and the edification of those who participate in the channel,
we will not allow debates, which can lead to arguments. If you wish to
debate, there is a specific channel on dal.net for that purpose.
Failure to abide by any of the rules above will result in kicks and/or bans.
In the unfortunately instance where someone may qualify for a kick or ban, he or she can expect the following actions to be taken:
Warning: An ops member will contact you and give you a warning, telling you the specific behavior(s) that warrant the warning.
Consequent Behavior: do not discuss this warning to others within the open channel. If you have a complaint against the op who gave you the warning, feel free to take it up with another op. However, under most conditions, the team will support the decision of a particular op. If another op reiterates the warning to you, debate and/or discussion with other ops is neither necessary or accepted. Trying to create strife among the Ops team is unacceptable.
Noncompliance to the above: will result in a ban of at least 1 week. We will endeavor to warn you when the ban will go into effect. After the first week you will be allowed back in the channel.
Subsequent Offenses: should you be spoken to about the same offense, or continue to behave contrary to the mission, vision, or rules stated above, you will be banned for 3 months. Should a third ban become needful, it will be permanent.
Ops Applicants must be Seventh-Day Adventist. Seventh-Day Adventist Church doctrine can be found here: What Seventh-Day Adventists Believe, and the 28 Fundamental Seventh-Day Adventist Beliefs. Many Christians and non-Christians who come to our channels have valid questions about Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. If an Operator is a non-Adventist, some undiscerning Christians may be misled as to what "Adventism" is all about.
Generally speaking, you will only be allowed to become an op after the current Ops Teams has had opportunity to get to know you. If an invitation to join the team is extended to you, you will be asked to submit an application stating your spiritual beliefs and reasons for wanting to be a part of the team. The Ops will then discuss the application and pray on the matter before you are notified of their decision.
Before reporting a problem to an op, we ask you to check your heart and motivation first. However, some reports are legitimate, such as terrorists in the channels, and some are written out of a negative complaining spirit. Make sure that if you are reporting a problem, such as an accusation against an Op Team member, for instance, it is backed up with proof. We will not take your word alone without supporting evidence.
We want to make these channels safe and fun for everyone. These are places where everyone can fellowship and serve the Lord while we wait for the day of His return. Let us encourage one another and accept each other as we are and not become stumbling blocks. Remember that each of us are works in progress; the work of sanctification takes a lifetime. Let us all remember Romans 14:13-17, which says, "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken as evil; for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Let His love shine upon each one of us, and may you find the #Adventist! ministry enjoyable, encouraging, and fun to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us praise God forever and ever, for He alone is worthy and mighty to be praised!
| _angie_ (United States) | jemaja__ (United States) | lorikeet (Australia) |
| branac (Canada) | JHB (China) | Naysee (Philippines) |
| Cadra (United States) | Katarain (United States) | Spotduster (United States) |
| dburry (United States) | KLMccoy (United States) | Swtnnice (United States) |
| jellojoy (United States) | ldylark (United States) |