 Christian Connection Instant Chat
Why Instant Chat?
Instant chat/messaging has the all the appeal of email and more...
On Christian Connection you can exchange instant messages with other members. If you are online at the same time as somebody else, you can start talking. Things can really liven up!
Instant messaging can feel more like a real conversation - it's immediate and allows you to send short messages back and forth in real time.
Please Note: Full members can both initiate chat and respond to chat requests. Trial members can only respond when invited to chat.
How Does It Work?
To chat, you need:
- To be logged into Christian Connection - and so does the person you're chatting to
- To initiate a 'chat request' to another online user by clicking the appropriate link or icon
- A browser capable of displaying Flash content, or Macromedia's Flash Player plugin
How do I make a chat request?
Full Members only
Decide who you want to contact:
- You can see who is online by going to the Who's Online page
- You can do a search and see on the list of results which of your matches is online
- You can see from somebody's profile whether or not they are online and available to chat
To make a chat request:
- Click on the green chat icon next to the user's name, or click the 'chat now' link
- The Instant Messenger screen will open on your computer, and a chat request will be sent to the other user. You don't need to have the Chat Assistant open on your computer to make a chat request.
- Depending on how the other user responds, your Messenger will show the following:
- While there is no response (the other user may be busy or not ready to accept your request yet), the Messenger continues to wait for a response and shows no further information.
- If the other user accepts your request, your Messenger will tell you that they have opened their chat screen. You can now start chatting.
- If the other user declines your request, your Messenger will tell you this at the bottom of the screen.
How do I receive a chat request?
Both Full and Trial Members can receive a chat request
You can only receive a chat request if your Chat Assistant window is open. Otherwise, people won't know you're online!
If you receive a chat request from somebody else:
- Your Chat Assistant will let you know. It will display who is requesting a chat, and if any other people are also requesting to chat.
- You can click on the 'profile' button to view their profile before deciding to click the 'Chat!' button to talk or the 'Decline' button to reject the request.
- Don't leave it too long, or the member requesting the chat may give up!
What If I Don't Want To Talk To Anybody?
To make yourself unavailable to chat, you can do either of the following:
- Close your Chat Assistant. This will hide you from the system and you will not be able to receive chat requests.
- Click 'Offline' in your Chat Assistant. This tells the system that you are unavailable to chat. Other members will know that you are online but will be unable to send chat requests to you.
To block a specific user:
- From your Instant Messenger, you can click the 'no entry' symbol at the top of the screen. This blocks the current user from further chats.
- COMING SOON: The system will soon be combined with your Banned Users list, so you will be able to permanently block specific users from making contact with you.
What Does It Cost?
At present, Instant Chat is free for all Members. In view of its popularity, we are reviewing whether to limit usage, or charge a small fee.
Help and Support
If you experience a problem with the CC Instant Chat system, please let us know via the help system, choosing 'Instant Chat' as your subject.
At present we are reaching capacity, so at busy times it may be difficult to get a connection. We would advise that if possible you arrange in advance (via email) to chat with other members at less busy times. The most busy times of the day are 9pm - 11pm, and also during 1pm - 2pm. If you find it difficult to get a connection, please wait for a few minutes or arrange to speak at a different time.
 What's the Chat Assistant?
In order to make yourself available for chat, you need to have the Chat Assistant open somewhere on your computer.
This is a small window that pops up when you login or when you click a chat link.
As long as the Assistant is open, other CC users will be able to see that you're online and may initiate chat requests. Don't worry - you can decline any chat request at any time, or can mark yourself as unavailable using the 'Offline' button in the Chat Assistant.
About the Instant Messenger
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