About this Manual, TechMission and AC4

THE MISSION OF AC4 IS TO SUPPORT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY COMPUTER CENTERS ACROSS THE WORLD AS THEY ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BY PROVIDING OTHERS WITH COMPUTER SKILLS TO MAKE A LIVING AND A SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION TO MAKE A LIFE.

This manual is provided to members of the Association of Christian Community Computer Centers (AC4), a program of TechMission, Inc. AC4 supports Christian community computer centers across the world as they address the digital divide, which is the gap that separates those with access to and skills with computers from those without. Christian community computer centers provide technology training and access to their local communities through after school programs, computer classes, computerized adult basic education, job training programs, walk-in computer centers, technology entrepreneurship programs, computer refurbishing and many other ways. The development of this manual was primarily funded by the C4T project, which is a partnership project between the CTCNet, the Alliance for Technology Access and AC4 funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Compassion Capital Fund.

Historically, churches and faith-based organizations have been some of the strongest institutions in the inner-city and have played a key role in educational movements. Two hundred years ago, as books became available to the masses, there was a major drive for literacy, and churches and faith-based institutions were the primary force behind that drive. Even the term "Sunday school" originally referred to literacy classes taught in churches. Today computers are being made available to the masses, and there is a new major Christian movement to promote computer literacy. The key goal of AC4 is to assist churches and Christian organizations to become a major driving force behind computer literacy just as they were with basic literacy.

AC4 currently has over 500 members from across the world that serve over 50,000 individuals each year in technology programs. AC4 provides a range of services and support to our members which include:

• Discounted Unemployment Insurance: Provides a nonprofit cooperative as an alternative to paying state unemployment insurance cost. An organization with personnel expenses of $150,000 might save $5,000 in unemployment fees.

• Free After School Educational Software: The Eduss Educational Software tests and evaluates children, shows problem areas, automatically sets individual learning schedules, and provides step-by-step teaching and detailed summary reports. Qualified TechMission members receive a free copy ($1800 regularly) and site license of Eduss software and may receive a discounted rate for a 3-year server site license, training, support and upgrades.

• Technology and Ministry Packet, which includes: Technology and Ministry Manual, Online Safety DVD and Manual, Christian Freeware and Ministry Software CD.

• Group Buying Discounts, enabling organizations to save up to 30% on administrative costs through discounts with FedEx, OfficeMax, insurance and discounts with over 100 other companies.

• Discounted Gifts in Kind Membership (as low as $125 vs. regular price of $250). GIK distributes millions of dollars worth of newly manufactured product donations - including technology, education, health, personal care, apparel, footwear, home improvement, appliances, automotive, toy, sporting, entertainment and office products - and special pricing programs to qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

• Discounted Covenant Eyes Accountability: Designed to safeguard your Internet world from the dangers, risks, and liabilities of Internet pornography. It regularly sends a list of all web visits with objectionable sites highlighted to an accountability partner. With TechMission Membership, service is only $2.50/month for ministry/organization staff ($6.99 regularly).

• Members only content, including community email list, curriculum, videos, toolkits and a GrantStation Newsletter (regularly $89/year), a weekly email newsletter on new funding opportunities, grant deadlines, conferences, trainings and relevant information for grantseekers.

TechMission is a Christian 501(c)(3) non-profit social service organization. Our values are Jesus, justice, and technology. Our mission is to support Christian organizations in using technology to transform vulnerable communities.

TechMission draws much of its ministry philosophy from the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and was started based on the needs identified by discussions of CCDA members. CCDA emphasizes three key principles as a part of their ministry philosophy: racial reconciliation, indigenous leadership and economic development.

Note on Copyright of this Manual: The pages of this manual may be freely copied and distributed by members of AC4. We only ask that for any copies that you make to distribute to others that you copy them without any changes and that you attach this page as a cover sheet.