SDA Connect – Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

SDA Connect ("we", "our", or "us") is a mobile application developed to help Seventh-day Adventist church members and the public find SDA churches worldwide, view nearby churches, watch uploaded sermons, and discover upcoming events. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us at smakowa03@gmail.com.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary to provide our services:

• Account information: name, surname, email address, and phone number provided during registration.
• Location data: approximate or precise device location, used only when you request to find the 5 nearest churches around you. This is collected on-demand and not stored on our servers.
• Usage data: anonymised information about which churches, sermons, or events you view, used solely to improve app performance.
• Feedback & help messages: messages you voluntarily submit through the Help & Feedback section.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your SDA Connect account.
• Display the global SDA church register and calculate nearby churches based on your location.
• Show you sermons and upcoming church events relevant to your region.
• Send you important notifications about church events (only if you have granted notification permission).
• Respond to your feedback and support requests.
• Improve the reliability and performance of the application.

4. Location Data

SDA Connect requests access to your device location only when you use the "Nearby Churches" feature. Location data is used in real-time to calculate the 5 nearest SDA churches and is never stored on our servers. You can deny location permission at any time through your device settings, though this will disable the Nearby Churches feature.

5. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. Your data may be shared only in the following limited circumstances:

• With service providers who assist in operating our application (e.g. cloud hosting), under strict confidentiality agreements.
• If required to comply with applicable law or a valid legal order.
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of SDA Connect, its users, or the public.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. You may request deletion of your account at any time (see Section 7 below). Upon deletion, all personal data associated with your account will be permanently removed from our systems within 30 days.

7. Your Rights & Account Deletion

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Request deletion of your account and all associated personal data.
• Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is based on consent).

8. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including encrypted password storage (bcrypt hashing) and HTTPS for all data transmitted between the app and our servers. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to protecting your data to the best of our ability.

9. Children's Privacy

SDA Connect is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Developer: Simon Makowa
• Email: smakowa03@gmail.com
• App: SDA Connect – Version 1.0.0
• Country: Zimbabwe