Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is HarvestLine a truly Christian based business?

A. Yes.  HarvestLine is not only committed to biblical values,
we require that our service Providers also make similar commitments.
But it goes beyond that.  Christianity is characterized not only by values,
but by the Great Commission.  Involvement in the advance of the gospel of 
Christ completes the true definition of "Christian Based.

Q. What is the long distance rate, and how do I know HarvestLine has the 
best rate for me?

A. The current rate for all residential and business accounts is 6.9¢.  
Some restrictions apply to corporate accounts and to sole proprietorships
with over $1000 per month in usage.  Please visit the Compare page to
decide what is best for you.

Q. Can I get the $14.95 rate on Internet Access if I do not want
your long distance plan?

A.  Yes!  The promotional low rate has been extended, and if you act quickly
your first month may be free!

Q. If I am an existing HarvestLine customer, can I switch to the lower rates
you offer now?

A. We apologize, but the answer is no.  The rates being offered now are 
limited time offers given by HarvestLine's provider to encourage more
participation in the HarvestLine.  They are for new customers only, sorry.

Q. If I am a new participant, how long will I have the current rate offered?

A. Indefinitely.  There is no planned rated increase or decrease.  It is 'permanent'
in that sense, but the communications industry is dynamically and radically changing
so your rates could be affected by some unforeseen event like a government tariff
change, or a market wide change.  You should have little fear of an increase.

Q.  Some companies offer a free switch back to my old carrier if I'm not
      satisfied after 90 days, do you?
A.  No. The fact is, many companies offer cash or "free" minutes and pay you
to switch over or switch back, so an offer to pay for switch is a little
vacant.  Those who offer to pay for your switch back after 90 days are simply
offering you some of your money back that they took through fees or higher
rates during your 90 day test.

Q.  Will there be a fee for switching my service to the HarvestLine?
A.  Your local telephone provider may charge you  a nominal charge per line
to switch your service.   Simply include a copy of your local bill showing the
charge with your 1st month's bill for your new service!  You will receive a
reimbursement check for up to $5 per line for up to three lines.

Q.  After I'm on the HarvestLine, what if another carrier offers me 
"free" minutes or cash to switch to them?  Should I take it?       
No. Will they also offer 10% of your bill to your favorite ministry every
month?  Remember, they know that they will get their money back eventually,
by charging you fees or higher rates.  That's how they pay for that barrage
of advertising, and they use your money to support causes you may oppose.

Q.  What about all these confusing offers I get that claim  to be 
A.  Certainly not for the ministry you support.  It is also charged in one
minute increments, so an 18 second "phone tag" call cost 7¢ with them,
but only a little over three cents on HarvestLine - a more than 50%
savings!.  Since they charge a monthly fee or a minimum, it's even worse. 
Don't play their game.  Get on HarvestLine and be a good steward of God's
money.

Q.  How will I be billed?
A.  Directly by your new carrier.  Now, every time you write a check to
pay your long distance bill, you are actually writing a check that, in part,
goes to your favorite ministry.  When your services are switched, you
will receive notification from your new billing and customer interconnect
service provider.  All HarvestLine services are on one unified bill.

Q.  Who can use HarvestLine?
A.  Any residence, business, cell phone user, or ministry in America with
good credit.  Be sure to write 'mobile' next to your mobile number on your
application. 
 

Q.  Are rates  higher for businesses?
A.  No.  The  same rates apply for businesses.  The sign  up form
changes, though.   For your business you must fill out a "Commercial
Services Agreement" and include a copy of your last long distance bill.

Q.  What other services might I inquire about in the future from
      HavestLine?
A.  Right now our focus is typical "dial 1" service, toll free 800, 888 and
877 inbound, calling cards, and many associated services like conference
calling, fax distribution, or other specialized services.  In the future, we
expect to offer digital wireless, local telephone service, and maybe even 
service provision of your electricity.  Look for announcements in your mailbox 
through your favorite ministry about these exciting services.  As always, quality, 
service, and biblical stewardship will be our guiding principles, and a percentage 
of total usage will be donated to Christ's kingdom causes. If you want to be 
first to hear about the availability of these services, be sure to give us your E-mail address.


Q.  What about all these confusing offers I get that claim  to be the latest, greatest,
best deal for me and for missions? Usually not true for you or the ministry you support.  Usually charged in one
minute increments,  an 18 second "phone tag" call cost 7¢ to 10¢  with them,
but only a little over three cents on HarvestLine - a more than 50%
savings!.  Since they charge a monthly fee or a minimum, it's even worse. 
Don't play their game.  Get on HarvestLine and be a good steward of God's
money.

All HarvestLine services are on one unified bill.

Q.  Is promotion of the HarvestLine by a ministry an endorsement
      of the basic network provider, or carrier?
      
A.  Yes, in a way, but no more so than buying gasoline from Texaco or Chevron is an
endorsement of those corporations.  Today, long distance minutes are a
commodity.  A minute is a minute,  unless it has some value added for
you - like supporting your favorite ministry.  But if any major carrier could
be endorsed in good conscience, it should be this one.  HarvestLine is in receipt
of a corporate policy statement defining our provider's stand on traditional
family values. It reads, in part, "(the carrier's) management is committed
to the concept of traditional family values.  We believe that the family is
the basic building block of our nation..."  This policy is signed, not by a
lower level manager, but the CEO of the company!  The HarvestLine is the
family oriented long distance program.

 Q.  Is the HarvestLine Stewardship Plan involved in the pro-family
      movement in America?
A. YES! By His grace, God led the founders of the HarvestLine to seek the
above mentioned pro family policy statement.  We are the company God
used toward that end.  It is our prayer that enthusiastic response to the
HarvestLine Stewardship Plan by the Christian community might make the
point that biblical principle is more important (and rewarding) than striving 
to be "politically correct".  This is not just using the phone.  It is choosing to 
encourage corporate revival in America and to promote the pro-family movement.


Q.   Is the "up to 10%" donation meant to indicate a tithe? 
A. HarvestLine makes no claim to "tithe" or to be tithing with the donation of a
percentage back to ministry from usage.  Tithing is what one does as a
minimum from his/her income.  Ten percent is the maximum that the
company can donate to ministry and maintain viability.  All income
produced from the ministry/business of HarvestLine is set apart for advancing
the kingdom of God.  The company exists for the one purpose of creating
funds for Christian ministry.  Each ministry, (such as your favorite), using
the HarvestLine has an executed "Memorandum of Understanding" .  The
percentage of return is clearly lined out in black and white and agreed
upon in advance by both the ministry and HarvestLine.  Secondly, HarvestLine
is a stewardship plan, not just a fund-raiser gimmick.  It seems
nonsensical to the Board of HarvestLine to offer a service at a higher price
than is necessary, just to give the appearance that the company is
"tithing" by returning 10%.  To be blunt,  if HarvestLine had a rate plan that
included daytime calls at rates over 25¢ per minute, we could and would
donate back much more than 10%.  The percentage of donation here is
not the real issue of stewardship; the ratio of the rate charged vs. the
donation percentage returned is the telling figure. 


Q.  Who holds  the HarvestLine accountable to biblical  business ethics?
A.   It is sad, but true that "OUR brethren" are often too gullible, too
often taken in by the "Christian sounding" lingo of some business people.  
It is also true that we are fallen, though saved, creatures.  That
awareness - that my feet are made of clay - is why HarvestLine is managed
and the Company is owned by a Board, not a partnership.  No decisions
are made in a vacuum. Even the CEO is held accountable to and by
these godly men. (See listing of the Board of Directors,HarvestLine)  No Board
member is dependent on HarvestLine for income, rather, each is deeply
committed to world evangelization.  Thus, the emphasis is on giving to
missions efforts vs. a political issues.  The other main component of the
HarvestLine Stewardship Plan is the savings side of the offer. It is
management's belief that without that, we would be reduced to clever,
emotionally oriented marketing schemes designed to manipulate "OUR
brethren" into signing up.  Let the facts speak.  Do the due diligence, call
the FCC and ask for the tariffs.  Enlightenment is wonderful!

Q.  What is the minimum donation from my usage given by the
      HarvestLine?
A.  Our commitment to stewardship is the very reason that the donation
percentage begins at 5%, and moves up toward 10% as the time and/or
volume benchmarks are met.  This allows us to offset initial program
expenses (such as the brochures, the web site ( HarvestLine Home  ),
paperwork, telephony expenses, office personnel, etc.), and then give
the maximum amount to advance the kingdom of God while Christian
families save.   


Q.  How long has  the HarvestLine been around?
A.  The HarvestLine Stewardship Plan as a legal entity has
existed for four years. We've been involved in telecom for six years in
this sort of funds for ministry mode.  One of our Board members was
involved in writing Sprint's initial billing software "way back when".
HarvestLine is not an "old" company; (I guess everything was new at some
time).  So, HarvestLine is not first, but we are committed to stay for the rest
of the cruise; HarvestLine is not as big as some, but the HarvestLine
Stewardship Plan is one of the best values available today to the
Christian family or Christian-owned business.

Q.  What guiding principles might a good steward use to select a
      long distance carrier?
A.  Mr. Larry Burkett, in his October 1996 newsletter,  has suggested
that Christians select a long distance company by using these four tests,
1) MORALITY - commitment to traditional family values; 2) QUALITY -
High and consistent; 3) COST, low and stable, no "differing weights and
differing measures" (Proverbs 20:10) and; 4) REVENUE TO THE
ORGANIZATION.  We have added one more, LOVE - love "in action and
in truth" demands that we make every effort to save our brethren money. 
Then, their family can use the savings every month and give to ministry
every time they make a long distance call, use family friendly Internet, or 
use a pager encourage Christians to practice good and faithful stewardship.

Q.  Who holds  the HarvestLine accountable to biblical  business ethics?
A.   It is sad, but true that "OUR brethren" are often too gullible, too
often taken in by the "Christian sounding" lingo of some business people.  
It is also true that we are fallen, though saved, creatures.  That
awareness - that my feet are made of clay - is why HarvestLine is managed
and the Company is owned by a Board, not a partnership.  No decisions
are made in a vacuum. Even the CEO is held accountable to and by
these godly men. (See listing of the Board of Directors,HarvestLine)  No Board
member is dependent on HarvestLine for income, rather, each is deeply
committed to world evangelization.  Thus, the emphasis is on giving to
missions efforts vs. a political issues.  The other main component of the
HarvestLine Stewardship Plan is the savings side of the offer. It is
management's belief that without that, we would be reduced to clever,
emotionally oriented marketing schemes designed to manipulate "OUR
brethren" into signing up.  Let the facts speak.  Do the due diligence, call
the FCC and ask for the tariffs.  Enlightenment is wonderful!

Q.  What is the minimum donation from my usage given by the
      HarvestLine?
A.  Our commitment to stewardship is the very reason that the donation
percentage begins at 5%, and moves up toward 10% as the time and/or
volume benchmarks are met.  This allows us to offset initial program
expenses (such as the brochures, the web site ( HarvestLine Home  ),
paperwork, telephony expenses, office personnel, etc.), and then give
the maximum amount to advance the kingdom of God while Christian
families save.  

Last updated: 09/08/00   Webmaster:  HarvestLine Technologist:  service@harvestline.com