Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Heartbeat Woman ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, or engage with our ministry services.

This policy complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa and other applicable data protection laws.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address and preferences through our Substack platform
• Communication: Messages sent through contact forms or email
• Event Registration: Information provided when registering for conferences or events
• Donations: Information necessary to process financial contributions
• Shop Purchases: Billing and shipping information for product orders

Information Automatically Collected

• Website Usage: Pages visited, time spent, and browsing patterns
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
• Cookies: Small files stored on your device to enhance your experience
• Social Media: Information from Facebook and Instagram when you interact with our pages

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To provide ministry services and spiritual guidance
• To send newsletters, devotionals, and inspirational content
• To process donations and manage financial contributions
• To organize and manage events, conferences, and gatherings
• To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• To process shop orders and deliver products
• To improve our website and services
• To comply with legal obligations
• To send prayer requests and ministry updates (with your consent)

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy and do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

• Substack: For newsletter delivery and management
• Payment Processors: For secure donation and purchase processing
• Email Services: For communication and prayer request distribution
• Website Hosting: For maintaining our online presence

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our ministry, members, or others.

Your Rights Under POPIA

As a South African data protection law, POPIA grants you the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request information about what personal data we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Object: Object to the processing of your personal information
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request restriction of how we process your data

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption for data transmission
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure storage and backup procedures
• Staff training on data protection and privacy

Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. We use:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: To understand how visitors use our website
• Social Media Cookies: For Facebook and Instagram integration

Third-Party Services

Our website integrates with third-party services that have their own privacy policies:

• Substack: Newsletter platform - Substack Privacy Policy
• Facebook: Social media integration - Facebook Privacy Policy
• Instagram: Social media integration - Instagram Privacy Policy

Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 without parental consent. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. Generally:

• Newsletter subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe
• Donation records: 7 years for tax and legal purposes
• Contact inquiries: 2 years unless ongoing relationship
• Event registrations: 3 years for ministry records

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date.

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