The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his131/comptbbs.lzh/COMPTBBS.TXT

Text File | 1991-06-30 | 9KB | 191 lines

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