Effective date: October 1, 2026
This policy explains what personal information RAYS OF FAITH ("ROF", "we") collects, why, how long we keep it, and the choices you have. It covers the ROF website, ROF sign-in (id.theraysoffaith.org) and the Rays of Faith Academy.
The short version: we collect only what we need to run events, volunteering, courses and our community. We don't sell your information, we don't show ads, and we don't use tracking cookies.
Who we are
RAYS OF FAITH, 1108 Valley Dale Dr, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526, United States. For anything about your information, email info@theraysoffaith.org.
What we collect, and why
When you use our forms
When you register for an event, sign up to volunteer, follow a project, ask to collaborate, or ask us to keep you informed, we collect what that form asks for. That's usually your name and email, and sometimes your phone number, your organisation, your message, the topics you're interested in, and, for volunteering, the areas, skills, location and time you offer.
We use it to do what you asked: confirm your place, send event reminders, match you to volunteering, or reply to you. When you agree to hear from us, we record when and how you agreed, so we can show we had your permission.
When you create a ROF account
ROF sign-in is one account for our services, starting with the Academy. We collect your name, your email, and a password, which we store only in scrambled (hashed) form, so nobody at ROF can read it. If you sign up by email, we send a link to confirm the address is yours before the account works.
If you choose Sign in with Google, Google tells us your name, your email, and that Google has confirmed it. We don't get your Google password or anything else from your Google account.
To keep accounts secure, we record sign-ins: the date and time, and the IP address and browser used.
When you study at the Academy
The Academy keeps your course enrolments, progress, quiz and assignment results, submissions, forum posts and certificates, so you can learn and pick up where you left off. This learning record stays on the Academy's own system. We don't copy it to the website or share it with anyone else.
When you browse the website
We count visits with our own analytics tool, which uses no cookies, doesn't store your IP address, and doesn't follow you across other websites. It tells us which pages are useful, not who you are.
The only cookies we set are the ones needed to keep you signed in and to protect sign-in forms. We don't use advertising or tracking cookies, so there's no cookie banner.
Who else handles your information
We use a small number of service providers, only to run our services:
- Amazon Web Services hosts our website, sign-in and Academy, and Amazon SES delivers our emails. Our servers are in the United States.
- Google, only if you choose "Sign in with Google".
We don't sell or rent your information, and we don't share it for anyone else's marketing. We would disclose information only if the law required it.
How long we keep it
- Event registrations and reminders: 2 years after the event
- Volunteer sign-ups: While you're volunteering with us, then 2 years from your last activity
- Collaboration requests and other enquiries: 2 years from our last contact with you
- Your choice to hear from us (and proof of it): Until you unsubscribe. After that we keep only your email and the date, so we keep respecting your choice
- ROF account: While you use it. If you don't sign in for 3 years, we'll email you, and then delete it
- Sign-ups never confirmed by email: 30 days
- Sign-in records (IP address, browser): 12 months
- Academy learning record: While your account exists. If you delete your account, we keep only a record of certificates issued (name, course, date), so a certificate can still be verified
- Website visit counts: Kept as totals. They contain nothing that identifies you
After these periods we delete the information, or strip anything that identifies you.
Your choices and rights
Wherever you live, you can ask us to:
- show you the information we hold about you, and give you a copy you can take elsewhere
- correct anything that's wrong
- delete your information (we'll explain anything we must keep, such as a certificate record)
- stop using it for something you object to, or stop sending you updates. Any update email we send includes a way to unsubscribe, and every event reminder has a link to stop reminders for that event
We'll never treat you differently for asking. We don't sell or share your information for advertising, so there's nothing to opt out of there.
Email info@theraysoffaith.org. We'll reply within 30 days, and we may need to confirm it's really you first. You can also ask someone to make a request for you.
Why we use your information. If the law where you live asks for a legal basis (for example in the UK or the European Union): we use it to do what you asked us to (register you, run your account and courses), with your consent (updates you've asked for, which you can withdraw at any time), and for our legitimate interest in keeping our services secure and running well. If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, please tell us first. You also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority.
Children
You must be 13 or older to create a ROF account or join the Academy. If you're 13 to 17, you need your parent's or guardian's agreement first, and you'll be asked to confirm it when you sign up. We don't knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has given us information, email us and we'll delete it.
Keeping it safe
Access to personal information is limited to the ROF staff who need it. Staff sign in through ROF sign-in, so their access can be removed in one place when their role changes. Connections to our services are encrypted, passwords are never stored readable, and we back up our systems. No system is perfectly secure, but we'll tell you promptly if a problem affects your information.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. If a change is significant, we'll also tell account holders by email.
Contact
RAYS OF FAITH, 1108 Valley Dale Dr, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526, United States · info@theraysoffaith.org