Email Guidelines:
Below are the guidelines you need to give to anyone and everyone who will be communicating with you. Please be very careful in what you write about your activities, or what you say over the telephone. Do not be too specific about numbers. Do not use real foreign names. Do not write about material support issues. Doing any of these can lead to problems, so you also need to read these guidelines and follow them.
We suggest that you get a new email address that you will use while serving in a new land, and only give it to people who have the guidelines below. Also, if while you are there you receive an inappropriate email from someone, you can send them the guidelines. May the Father bless all your efforts!
"I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
Matthew 10:16
GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNICATING WITH ME WHILE I AM AWAY
There are many inappropriate words and subjects that should NEVER be used in communication with me while I am in my foreign country. This includes letters, faxes, phone calls and, perhaps even more importantly, e-mail. Below are correspondence guidelines for communicating with me. They need to be followed carefully. If not, it can cause problems for me, for my new friends, and for other messengers, teachers, servants. Please read the following carefully.
- 1. Don't criticize a government in any way.
- 2. Don't use religious words such as missions, missionary activity, worship, evangelism, Bible studies, giving out Bibles, the church, material support, etc.
- 3. Limit your use of faith words to talking about your own spiritual life and growth. You can quote Scripture. Just remember that moderation is the key. It is probably OK to write, "We are praying for you." or "We are keeping you in our prayers." But it is not good to refer to individuals, such as "We are praying for Mei Hua." In fact, never mention the names of new friends I may have made in any religious context.
- 4. Don't send me publications, printed bulletins, church-related newspapers, etc.
- 5. Don't send letters on church stationery. Do not send support information. Any teaching tapes mailed should be labeled only with the speaker's first and last name. Don't send packages with pre-printed labels.
- 6. Don't send bulk e-mail to me while I’m away.
- 7. Please ask my permission before you give out my e-mail address to anyone. Only give out my e-mail address or mailing address to people that have a copy of these Guidelines.
- 8. Please DO write to me while I’m away. Mail is a cherished and needed encouragement. Even if you can't say all you'd like to, please do write. A letter about what's happening will be received with thanks.
- 9. These Guidelines should be followed for ALL phone calls, e-mails, letters and packages.