Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Hackers for Christ Ministries, Inc. ("Hackers for Christ," "we," "us," or "our") website located at hackersforchrist.org (the "Site") and all related services (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using our Site or Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our Site or Services.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

About Our Ministry

Hackers for Christ Ministries, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Christian cybersecurity ministry. Our mission is to protect churches from cyber threats and disciple believers in technology through:

• Free Cybersecurity Services: Security assessments, penetration testing, workshops, and incident readiness for churches
• The Sentinel Network: A community of Christian cybersecurity professionals serving churches
• The Forge: A 6-week training program for Christian technologists
• Kingdom Protocol: Faith-integrated cybersecurity content and resources

All church services are 100% free, donor-funded, and provided as a ministry—not as a commercial transaction.

Eligibility

For Churches

To receive our services, churches must:

• Be a legitimate church, ministry, or faith-based nonprofit organization
• Agree to work cooperatively with our team and volunteers
• Provide permission and access for security assessments (where applicable)
• Be 18 years or older if serving as the primary contact

For Volunteers

To join The Sentinel Network, volunteers must:

• Affirm our Statement of Faith: All volunteers must be professing Christians who agree with our core doctrinal beliefs
• Pass a background check (required for all volunteers)
• Complete The Forge training program (6 weeks)
• Sign a volunteer covenant and confidentiality agreement

For Donors & Sponsors

Anyone may donate or sponsor our ministry, but please note:

• Status: Hackers for Christ Ministries Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a public charity.
• Tax-Deductible: Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Use of Services

Acceptable Use

You agree to use our Services only for lawful purposes. You may NOT:

• Provide false or misleading information
• Impersonate another person or organization
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Use our Services to harm, harass, or threaten others
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Attempt to reverse engineer or hack our Site
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) without permission

Security Services

For security assessments and penetration testing:

• Permission Required: All testing is permission-only and requires written authorization
• Non-Destructive: Our assessments are designed to be non-destructive and minimize disruption
• Scope Limitations: Testing is limited to agreed-upon systems and timeframes
• Confidentiality: All findings are confidential and shared only with authorized church representatives

Intellectual Property

Our Content

All content on this Site (text, graphics, logos, images, videos, software) is the property of Hackers for Christ Ministries, Inc. or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may view and print content for personal, non-commercial use. You may NOT:

• Modify, copy, distribute, or reproduce our content without permission
• Use our name, logo, or branding without written consent
• Remove copyright or trademark notices

Church Resources

Training materials, playbooks, and resources we provide to churches may be used internally for church operations but may not be redistributed, sold, or published without permission.

Disclaimers & Limitations of Liability

Services Provided "As Is"

IMPORTANT: Our Services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
• Guarantees that our Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
• Guarantees that security assessments will find all vulnerabilities

Cybersecurity Limitations

Security Disclaimer: No security assessment, penetration test, or cybersecurity service can guarantee 100% protection or identify all vulnerabilities. Cyber threats evolve constantly, and new vulnerabilities emerge regularly. Our services provide valuable insights and recommendations, but they do not eliminate all risk.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Hackers for Christ Ministries, Inc., its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents shall NOT be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
• Damages resulting from cyberattacks, data breaches, or security incidents
• Damages resulting from reliance on our recommendations
• Damages resulting from volunteer actions (covered by insurance where applicable)

Maximum Liability: In no event shall our total liability exceed $100 USD or the amount you paid us (which, for churches, is $0).

Insurance & Risk Management

We maintain appropriate insurance coverage for our operations. However, churches remain responsible for their own cybersecurity posture and must implement our recommendations at their own discretion and risk.

Donations & Sponsorships

501(c)(3) Status

Tax-Exempt Status: Hackers for Christ Ministries, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a public charity recognized by the IRS.

• Tax-Deductible: Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
• Transparency: We provide donation receipts for your tax records.

Donation Terms

• Voluntary: All donations are voluntary and non-refundable
• No Goods or Services: Donations are gifts; you receive no goods or services in return (except gratitude!)
• No Obligation: Churches are never obligated to donate to receive services
• Use of Funds: Donations support our mission as determined by our board of directors
• Receipts: We provide tax-deductible donation receipts for your records

Sponsorships

Corporate sponsors and foundation grants are governed by separate agreements. Sponsorship recognition may be provided on our website or materials, subject to approval.

Volunteer Terms

Volunteer Relationship

Volunteers with The Sentinel Network serve in a volunteer capacity and are NOT employees or contractors. Volunteers receive no compensation, though expenses may be reimbursed on a case-by-case basis.

Volunteer Obligations

Volunteers agree to:

• Complete The Forge training and maintain required certifications
• Sign and adhere to our volunteer covenant and code of conduct
• Maintain confidentiality of all church information
• Report security findings responsibly and ethically
• Act with integrity and professionalism at all times
• Notify us of any conflicts of interest

Termination

We reserve the right to terminate volunteer status at any time for any reason, including violation of our code of conduct, failure to complete training, or conduct inconsistent with our Christian values.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Hackers for Christ Ministries, Inc., its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of our Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any law or third-party rights
• Any false or misleading information you provide

Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution

Before filing any formal claim, you agree to attempt to resolve disputes informally by contacting us at [email protected]. We commit to working in good faith to resolve issues amicably.

Mediation & Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved through Christian mediation or binding arbitration in accordance with biblical principles (1 Corinthians 6:1-8), where appropriate.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Idaho and the United States, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action must be brought in the courts of Idaho.

Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to our Services at any time, with or without notice, for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Conduct that is harmful to other users, our mission, or our reputation
• Fraudulent or deceptive behavior
• Legal or regulatory requirements

Upon termination, all provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive (disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, etc.) shall continue in effect.

Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Hackers for Christ regarding use of our Services.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full effect.

Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not be deemed a waiver of such right or provision.

Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, cyberattacks, or government actions.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.