LIS:What is a Computer Bulletin Board?  by Bill Bennett

*	Bulletin Boards are computers hooked up to the phone lines
	and provide a means for others to communicate with your
	computer, or other computers to exchange information,
	messages, files, programs.
*	The Computer is capable of recieving phone calls only from
	other computers.  This type of system is not something you
	call with an ordinary telephone, although it does use
	ordinary phone lines to operate.
*	Most Bulletin Boards have one phone line for access, some
	have several phone lines for easier access.
*	The System Operator (SysOp) is the person 'in charge' of
	overseeing the operation and maintence of the system. 
	CoSysops are users that the SysOp has given special access
	or authority to in order to help manage the system.

Who calls a Computer Bulletin Board?

*	This depends largely upon the content of the system.  If the
	discussions are adult (heavy theology) related, then mostly
	adults and overly intellectual kids will call.  If the
	system is known for stupid sophmorish jokes, then kids will
	call most often.  The SysOp pretty much sets the tone of the
	system.
*	You will get all kinds of callers.  People that are lonely,
	people that are argumentative.  People that are afraid to
	answer the door, but willing to listen to someone present
	the Gospel via a computer... they know they can 'pull the
	plug' whenever they choose, instead of having to listen to
	you all night.
*	More often than not, the people that call are generally
	anti-social.  They have trouble communicating with others
	face-to-face, and the computer gives then a sense of
	security and power.  They are self-conscience about
	something, the computer hides the obvious, thereby
	'equalizing' the ground they will be communicating on.  
*	Ocassionally, we will get handicapped folks.  They really
	enjoy being able to communicate with others.  Communicating
	via computer 'hides' the handicapp, thereby 'giving the
	handicapped individual confidence to speak up publically and
	voice their opinions without feeling like they are any
	different and anyone else.
*	If it is a Christian BBS, ocassionally, people will call in
	with questions they want answered immediately for some given
	situation they are in, that troubles them.
*	Curiousity seekers, those folks that just like to poke
	around here and there, not really committed to anything in
	particular, but interested in seeing what you have to say.

What kind of information is on a Bulletin Board?

*	Messages that people are exchanging.  It can be in public so
	that everyone can read it, or privately so that only whom
	the message is addressed to can read it.  People will write
	messages back and forth, the BBS provides the 'medium' that
	stores those messages & information.  This can be espically
	helpful for missionaries, evangelists & the like that are on
	the road.  They can call 'home' 24hrs a day to get their
	'electronic mail'.
*	Information files on a large variety of subjects.  We carry
	personal testimonies, tracts, articles on cults,
	apologetics, Biblical research & word studies, inspirational
	& devotional materials, as well as articles on current
	events and Christian issues AND sermons.  This is always
	accessable, and we constantly add new information files.
*	Programs, such as Bible search programs, Church management
	programs, Bible oriented games, Of course, we carry the
	complete KING JAMES BIBLE, with software to search it like a
	concordance.
*	Much of the information is provided by Pastors that wish to
	perpetuate their sermons & Biblical research.  Litterally
	thousands of folks will read a single sermon over the period
	of years, and since this information is accessable to people
	all over the world, multitudes can benefit by a single
	message or tract.

How do "I" run a Bulletin Board?

*	You purchase software, add a phone line, do a little
	advertizing on other systems (leave a message telling others
	that you run a BBS, with the number of course), and start
	writing messages.  In the case of S.O.N./Vatican Bank, we
	write our own software that is uniquely CHRISTIAN in scope
	and emphasis.  Secular BBS's usually are not interested in
	having the KJV Bible online & intergrated fully into the
	system.  We don't believe some of their 'features' & 'games'
	(pornographic pictures or Dungeons & Dragons ) are proper
	for a Christian System.
*	Get other Christians interested in the system.  You will
	need their prayers as well as moral support.

What is needed to run a Bulletin Board?

*	A computer, preferably a MS-DOS machine or an Epson QX-10
*       At least a 20 meg Hard disk - with at least 10 meg free
        space.40 - 80 meg Hard disk is a 'nice' starting place.
*	A modem, preferably a 2400 baud or higher.
*	A dedicated phone line - ie. extra phone line for the BBS.
*	About 2 hours a day - to write messages, answer mail, verify
	new users, research & key in new files.

What kind of 'results' can I expect from running a Bulletin Board?

*	Very slow....  This type of witnessing takes months,
	sometimes even years to lead someone to Christ.
*	Private communication can sometimes be the way to get
 	through to folks that are shy.  a personal greeting in
	private mail helps break the ice.
*	Expect people to argue with you - however, this does not
 	mean they are CLOSED to the GOSPEL.  
*	If people keep calling and reading your messages, rejoice
	that they ARE seeing the Gospel!

Why SHOULD I run a Bulletin Board?

*	To win people to Christ.
*	To help inform and build up the Body of Christ.
*	To promote Evangelism of Roman Catholics & keep others from
 	falling into the ecumenical movement.
*	To reach into those 'unreachable' homes via computer.

Why SHOULDN'T I run a Bulletin Board?

*	It will take MUCH time & consistency - if your easily
 	discouraged, or your church is not behind your ministry, or
	you think computers are 'neat' - don't waste your time.
*	If you are hesitant about standing alone, afraid to write
	messages or witness, and want some kind of ego-builder -
	don't waste God's time.
*	If you are unwilling to COMMIT the MONEY, TIME OR DAILY
	EFFORT of writing evangelistic messages, or hours of
	research & buying books - forget it.  You can EXPECT to be
	building a solid Biblical research and apologetical library,
	it will cost you much money & time - those that don't have
	the resources are easy prey to the cults.
*	If you expect others to financially support your efforts, or
	somehow 'get rich' by providing a 'service' others will PAY
	to access - forget it.  As long as we provide the SAME or
	BETTER service free of charge, money making schemes won't
	even get off the ground.
*	If you expect to continue to OWN your computer, and have it
	for your own personal use anytime you want it, this is not
	the ministry for you.  You WILL see every kind of user try
	to crash your system, abuse your computer, slander your
	name, accuse you of mismanagement and in so many words call
	you stupid and complain about your software.  
*	In effect, this type of ministry REQUIRES you to commit your
	computer to others - don't expect to be using it yourself to
	do the church 'bookkeeping' and running a BBS 'on the side'. 
	The computer will be DEDICATED to others use - 24 hours a
	day.  If you have a 'spare' computer, use the 'spare' for
	this kind of ministry.

*       Before anyone 'jumps' into this kind of ministry, take the
	time to 'count the cost'.  We don't want Christian BBS's
	being put online just to see them disconnected 6 months
	later because somebody wasn't committed to the ministry.
	It's a poor testimony to the unsaved and the person who gets 
	assigned your old phone number won't appreciate the 2am
	phone calls with a computer buzzing on the other end.

Where to start?

*       Rather than just 'jump right in with both feet', we suggest
	that you begin calling into one of our systems, become familiar
	with how BBS's work, how to communicate with people via computers,
	to become comfortable with this type of ministry.  We are adding
	more systems to our SON / Vatican Bank Network, here's some of
	the well established ones you can call, 24 hours a day:

	S.O.N. Milwaukee, WI  - 4 phone lines, 300-9600 baud, 414-771-5391
	Bill Bennett - SysOp

*	If you would like to talk with someone personally about how to
	get information from our Database, ie. printouts, references or
	referrals, you can contact Bill Bennett at 414-771-8968 VOICE.

*	If you have information, books, tracts, testimonies or articles
	you would like to be made avaliable for others to use in witnessing,
	or just general information you'd like to add to the Database, please
	call us!  By putting your research, sermons, tracts & testimonies into
	this type of system, your hard work will reach many more people and
	will continue to reach them for years to come.  We make a point of
	maintaining the author's credits at the end of each article, if they
	wish to do so.

Bill Bennett

This article originated on The Salvation Online Network
