Gather Ministries Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 22, 2026

Privacy Policy

Gather Ministries ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how the Gather Ministries mobile application ("App"), our website, and our related services collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information. By using our App or services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Who We Are

Gather Ministries is a Christian nonprofit ministry dedicated to providing encouragement, discipleship, prayer support, mental health coaching, and Biblical resources through our mobile application, SMS platform, website, and other communication channels.

2. Information We Collect

Depending on how you use the App, we may collect the following information.

Information You Provide

• Name

• Email address

• Phone number

• Prayer requests

• Messages you send through the App

• Profile information you choose to provide

• Survey responses

• Donation information (processed securely by third-party payment processors.

Automatically Collected Information

The App may collect:

• Device model

• Operating system

• App version

• Device identifiers

• IP address

• Mobile carrier

• Crash reports

• Diagnostic information

• Usage statistics

• Log information

Notification Information

If you enable notifications, we collect the information necessary to send push notifications to your device.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide our ministry services

• Deliver Bible studies and devotional content

• Send prayer updates you have requested

• Respond to support requests

• Improve the App

• Diagnose technical problems

• Personalize your experience

• Send important service announcements

• Process donations

• Prevent fraud and abuse

• Comply with applicable laws

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

4. Prayer Requests

Prayer requests submitted through the App may be shared with authorized members of the Gather Ministries Prayer Team if you choose to submit them for prayer.

Please avoid submitting highly sensitive personal information unless necessary for your request.

5. Mental Health Coaching

Gather Ministries provides Christian encouragement, faith-based guidance, and peer support.

Our coaches are not acting as licensed therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, or emergency medical providers unless specifically stated.

The information provided through the App is intended for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, psychological, or legal advice.

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 or contact your local emergency services immediately.

If you are in the United States and experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

6. SMS Communications

If you choose to receive text messages, we may send:

• Bible studies

• Devotionals

• Prayer updates

• Church announcements

• Ministry updates

• Support responses

Message frequency varies.

Standard carrier messaging and data rates may apply.

You may opt out of SMS messages at any time by following the instructions provided in the messages.

7. Push Notifications

You may choose whether to receive push notifications.

You can disable notifications at any time through your device settings.

8. Donations

If you make a donation through the App, payment information is processed securely by trusted third-party payment processors.

Gather Ministries does not store your complete payment card information.

9. Cookies and Analytics

Our website and App may use:

• Cookies

• Analytics services

• Performance monitoring tools

• Crash reporting services

These technologies help us improve the App, diagnose problems, and better understand how our services are used.

10. Third-Party Services

The App may use trusted third-party providers for services such as:

• Cloud hosting

• Analytics

• Push notifications

• Payment processing

• Authentication

• Crash reporting

• Email delivery

These providers receive only the information necessary to perform their services and are required to safeguard your information.

11. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information only:

• With your permission

• With trusted service providers who assist us in operating the App

• When required by law

• To protect our legal rights

• To investigate fraud or security issues

• As part of a legal organizational restructuring if required by law

12. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no method of electronic storage or transmission over the Internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

13. Children's Privacy

The Gather Ministries App is not directed toward individuals under the age of 18.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18 without the consent of a parent or legal guardian where required by applicable law.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from an individual under the age of 18 in violation of applicable law, we will promptly delete that information or obtain the necessary parental or guardian consent.

14. Your Choices

You may:

• Update your account information

• Request correction of inaccurate information

• Request deletion of your account where applicable

• Unsubscribe from email communications

• Opt out of SMS messages

• Disable push notifications through your device settings

15. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights under applicable privacy laws, including the right to:

• Access your personal information

• Correct inaccurate information

• Request deletion of your personal information

• Request a copy of your data where applicable

• Restrict certain processing activities

• Withdraw consent where applicable

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information below.

16. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to:

• Provide ministry services

• Maintain ministry and financial records

• Comply with legal obligations

• Resolve disputes

• Enforce our agreements

When information is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized where practical.

17. International Users

If you access the App outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States.

By using the App, you consent to this transfer.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

When material changes are made, we will update the Effective Date shown above and provide notice within the App or on our website when appropriate.

Your continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

19. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

Gather Ministries
Rustic Retreats Inc. (DBA Gather Ministries)

Email: support@gather-ministries.org

Phone: 863-225-3776

Website: https://www.gather-ministries.org

20. Google Play & Apple App Store Compliance

This Privacy Policy is intended to satisfy the privacy disclosure requirements of:

• Google Play Developer Program Policies

• Apple App Store Review Guidelines

• Applicable United States privacy laws

The Gather Ministries App requests only the permissions necessary to provide its intended functionality. Any permissions requested are used solely to provide the features you choose to use. We do not collect or access device information beyond what is necessary to operate the App and improve the user experience.

By using the Gather Ministries App, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

This version is suitable for publication on your website and for submission to both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It includes your updated contact information and the revised policy stating that the app is intended for users 18 and older.