Privacy Policy

Last updated: December 2024

Our Commitment

Real & Raw Gospel respects your privacy. We are committed to protecting any personal information you share with us and being transparent about our data practices.

Information We Collect

We collect minimal information necessary to provide our services:

• User Accounts (Optional): If you choose to create an account, we collect your email address, password (encrypted), and optionally a display name. This allows you to access features like bookmarks, notes, and reading plans.
• Bible Reader Preferences: We store your reading preferences locally in your browser (translation selection, bookmarks, notes, reading progress) to enhance your experience.
• Activity Logs: For administrative purposes, we log certain actions (like content creation or user management) performed by admin/editor accounts. Regular browsing activity is not tracked.

You can use most features of our website without creating an account. Account creation is completely optional.

Third-Party Embeds

We use minimal third-party embeds to enhance your experience:

• Video Players: We may embed videos from YouTube (using youtube-nocookie.com for privacy), TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. These platforms may collect data according to their own privacy policies.
• Audio Content: Audio files are hosted locally and do not involve third-party tracking.

We choose privacy-respecting options whenever possible (such as YouTube's no-cookie domain). However, embedded content from third parties may still use cookies or collect data according to their policies.

Affiliate Links

Our Books page and other content may contain affiliate links. When you click these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What this means for you:

• Your price stays the same whether you use our link or not
• The merchant (e.g., Amazon, other retailers) may track your purchase to credit our account
• We only recommend resources we genuinely believe will help you grow spiritually
• Commissions help support this ministry and keep resources free

Analytics

We use Vercel Analytics, a privacy-respecting analytics service that:

• Collects aggregated, anonymous usage statistics
• Does not use cookies or track individual users
• Does not collect personal information or IP addresses
• Complies with GDPR and privacy regulations

This helps us understand how our website is used so we can improve the user experience. Your individual browsing behavior is not tracked, and you cannot be personally identified from this data.

Cookies and Local Storage

We use essential cookies and browser storage for basic functionality:

• Authentication Cookies: If you create an account, we use secure cookies to maintain your login session. These are essential for accessing your account features.
• Bible Reader Preferences: We store your reading preferences (translation selection, bookmarks, notes, reading progress) in your browser's local storage. This data never leaves your device and is not sent to our servers unless you're signed in and choose to sync it.
• Reading Streaks: If you use our reading plans feature, we store your reading streak data locally in your browser.

We do not use tracking cookies or third-party advertising cookies. All cookies and storage are used solely for functionality, not for tracking or advertising purposes.

External Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., affiliate book links, social media, video platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.

Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect any information you provide. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children's Privacy

Our website is intended for general audiences and does not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Know what data we collect about you
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and all associated data
• Correction: Update or correct your account information
• Opt-Out: Use the website without creating an account (most features are available without an account)
• Data Portability: Request a copy of your data (bookmarks, notes, etc.)
• Privacy: Browse our site without being personally tracked (analytics are aggregated and anonymous)

To exercise these rights, please contact us through the information provided on our website. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us through the information provided on our website.