SMS Verification Requirements

Since 2023, mobile carriers in the United States have required all SMS numbers used by "businesses" to be verified - including non-profit organizations, like churches. eAdventist handles both the cost and process for SMS Verification.

The 5 most important things for SMS Verification are:

1) Church Website

• Is your website completed and working?
• Does the website clearly feature the church's current name?
• Does the URL reflect the church's name? Adventist Connect URLs always include the church's name.
• Does the site include a Contact Email (in the footer, About page or Contact Us page)?

2) Contact Email

• This email should be a church email, rather than the pastor's email.
• Does the Contact Email clearly reflect the name of the church? The verification team prefers a private domain (e.g. church@sligosda.org) or mailbox name (e.g. sligosda@gmail.com) that closely resembles the church's name.

3) Tax ID

• In the US,  your church's Tax ID (EIN) is required for Toll-free verification. It will be a 9-digit number, like 12-3456789.
• In Canada, your church's Tax ID (CRA) is only required if you will be sending to subscribers with US phone numbers.

4) Privacy Policy URL

• Your web site is required to have a Privacy Policy page that includes either (a) "the information you provide will not be shared with any third parties" or (b) "All of the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information won't be shared with any third parties."
• The link to your Privacy Policy needs to be clearly included on the home page (e.g. in the footer).

5) Terms of Service URL

• Your church's web site is required to have a Terms of Service page that includes the following:

By providing your mobile phone number and enrolling in [CHURCH NAME] notifications, you agree to receive recurring announcement text messages from [CHURCH NAME]. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for help. For additional assistance, contact [CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS] or [CONTACT PHONE NUMBER]. Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Participation in this program is subject to our [PRIVACY POLICY LINK] and [TERMS OF SERVICE LINK].

If your Verification Request is denied...

If Twilio's Toll-free Verification team denies your request for some reason, our eAdventist team will contact Twilio's Support team to help us find and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.