GMO Security Policy 

For all contacts, do not share your personal contact information (phone, email address, physical address) or social media information (Facebook or Twitter, etc).

Never tell anyone in a sensitive country that there are Christian workers, pastors or missionaries in their country. Also, NEVER offer contact information for local Christians. See procedure below for making on-the-ground connections.

Some contacts say they are afraid of persecution. Most people will not be endangered simply by making a private profession of faith, but by openly displaying their faith or aggressively sharing Christ with others. 

Sometimes when contacts say they want to meet someone locally, they just want to meet new people. If they sincerely want to grow in their faith, you should try to connect them with a church or believers on the ground. Here’s the procedure: 

1. OM must carefully determine that the contact is ready and has a good reason to meet with believers on the ground: Ready to be baptized or otherwise declare his faith, or get involved with a Bible study or church. 
2. OM gets contact info from the contact. Some have Skype or Facebook ID's that provide security and anonymity for both parties. This could also be e-mail address or cell #. 
3. OM passes this info to our on-the-ground person, who initiates with the contact, using proper security procedures. The Volunteer Coordinator for each region (see list below) can put you in touch with the on-the-ground coordinator or pass the info through for you. 
4. OM continues correspondence with the contact to track progress, keeping records in contacts’ Notes section.

The Importance of Anonymity and Security

As volunteers with GMO it is important that we remain anonymous as we minister to contacts. Not all contacts writing to GMO have good intentions. Christians are being persecuted around the world and some who write want this ministry to end. Others desire to take financial advantage or steal your identity. More recently, we have seen evidence that GMO is becoming better known by those wishing to take advantage. Revealing clues to your identity poses a security risk.

The system GMO uses for communication with contacts is designed to protect OMs by preventing those you write to from getting your email address or any personal contact information. For security reasons, GMO has a policy to not share personal contact information (including social media) or details about your identity with contacts. Contacts have been known to search on Facebook and other social media to bring the conversation outside of GMO’s secure system.

If possible, please choose a public name to use other than your real name in your correspondence.  Consider using a gender neutral name which helps when ministering to contacts from cultures where gender can be a barrier. Avoid sharing other details such as information about your family, your location, your job, or anything specific that can help a contact identify you.

Contacts who ask for material aid should be told that you are a volunteer at an online ministry and policy does not allow you to send any material aid. Never send money or credit in any form to a contact. If they want a Bible, share the Bible link or website, but also check OM Resources for other options. Local churches may also provide a Bible in some circumstances.

If a disciple in a sensitive country wants to be connected with local Christians, obtain contact information from the disciple, and ask your leader to pass it on so it can be given to local Christians in that country. Never offer your disciple contact information for local Christians or confirm that there are Christian workers in their country. Doing so could put them in danger. Local believers will initiate contact if it is safe to do so.