Good Shepherd Baptist Church Privacy Policy
Effective Date: January 22, 2026
Last Revised: January 22, 2026
Good Shepherd Baptist Church (“we” “us” “our”), a nonprofit religious organization, respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us, including through the use of our website https://gsbcministry.org (the Website) and through our communications, including Short Message Service (“SMS”) and related mobile messaging services.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information as a visitor to our website and a participant in our digital and mobile messaging platforms, including our SMS/MMS lists, and describes your rights and choices regarding that information.
1. Information We Collect
When you engage with our website, register for Church services, programs, events, or opt in to receive SMS messages, we may collect certain personal information that can identify you directly or indirectly, including:
Contact Information
• Name
• Email address
• Telephone number (including mobile number)
Mobile Messaging Information
• Mobile opt-in status
• Date and time of opt-in
• Mobile network carrier (for message delivery)
• Message delivery status and analytics
Website Usage Data
• IP address
• Browser type
• Pages visited and links clicked
• Date and time of access
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information collected for purposes consistent with our mission, including but not limited to:
Providing Services and Communications
• Processing and delivering the services, events, and communications you request.
• Sending administrative messages and service alerts.
• Conducting analytics to improve our website and messaging services.
Mobile Messaging / SMS Communication
If you voluntarily provide your mobile phone number and consent to receive SMS messages, we will send you text messages regarding Church news, ministry updates, event information, volunteer opportunities, giving reminders, and other relevant church communications.
Legal and Safety Purposes
• Complying with applicable legal obligations.
• Protecting the security and integrity of our systems.
3. Mobile Opt-In Consent and Use
By providing your mobile phone number and opting in to receive SMS messages from Good Shepherd Baptist Church, you:
• Consent to receive recurring text messages from the Church, including informational and program-related messaging.
• Acknowledge that message and data rates may apply, based on your mobile service plan.
• Agree that messaging may be sent using an automatic telephone dialing system where permitted.
Use of Mobile Opt-In Data:
We will never share or sell your mobile opt-in data with third parties for their marketing purposes. Your mobile number and associated messaging consent status are used solely for internal Church communications and purposes directly related to our ministry and services.
We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us with SMS delivery, analytics, and technical support solely to the extent necessary to provide, improve, or support our services, and only under appropriate contractual restrictions that prohibit further use or redistribution.
4. Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies
Our website may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect usage data and improve user experience. You can control cookies through your browser settings or other tools. If you refuse cookies, certain features of the website may not function as intended.
5. How We Share Information
We share your information with third parties only in the ways described below or with your explicit consent.
Service Providers
We may share data with vendors and service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as SMS delivery platforms, hosting providers, analytics services, and technical support.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose personal information when required by law, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or legal process; to protect the safety of individuals; or to prevent harm to the Church or others.
Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, provided that the receiving entity agrees to respect this Privacy Policy.
We do not otherwise sell, license, or disclose your data to unaffiliated third parties for marketing purposes.
6. Opt-Out and Message Frequency
SMS Opt-Out:
You may opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time. To stop receiving messages, respond with the word:
STOP
After you send the STOP command, you will receive one final confirmation message, and no further messages will be sent unless you subsequently re-opt in.
Help/Support:
For assistance with the SMS program, reply with:
HELP
Message frequency varies depending on ministry activities. Message and data rates may apply based on your mobile plan.
7. Security Measures
We implement appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards intended to protect your information against unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction. While we strive to protect personal information, no security system is completely secure, and no method of transmission over the Internet is guaranteed.
8. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to provide the services you request, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When personal information is no longer required, we will securely dispose of it according to industry standards.
9. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain legal rights related to your personal information, including:
• The right to request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• The right to correct or update inaccurate information.
• The right to request deletion of personal information, subject to legal obligations.
• The right to opt out of future communications, as detailed above.
To exercise your rights, please contact us using the information provided below.
10. Children’s Privacy
Our website and SMS messaging are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. If we learn that we have collected personal information of a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such data promptly.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the Effective Date at the top of this policy and post the revised version on the Website. Your continued use of the website or participation in SMS communications after those changes demonstrates your consent to the revised policy.
12. Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, or if you wish to exercise any rights described herein, please contact:
Good Shepherd Baptist Church
Website: https://gsbcministry.org
Mailing Address: 17822 Euclid Avenue · Cleveland, OH 44112
Phone: (216) 481-5444
Email: info@gsbcministry.org
