Privacy Policy
Who we are
This policy explains how Carismah Church (we, the church) handles information from people who interact with our virtual assistant —Juanita in Spanish, Sharah in English, and Maria in Portuguese— through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. Controller: Carismah Church, 26077 Nelson Way, Suite 1510, Katy, TX 77494, United States. Phone: (832) 768-5206. Privacy contact email: admin (at) carismahchurch.org. Website: https://carismahchurch.org.
Information we collect
When you message the assistant we may collect: platform identifiers (your WhatsApp number or Messenger/Instagram user ID and your public profile name); the content of your messages (text or voice-note transcripts); and information you voluntarily provide for a service, such as your name, phone or email, the reason for a pastoral appointment, availability, or the ministry area you want to serve in. We do not intentionally request or store sensitive information beyond the minimum needed to handle your request.
How we use your information
We use your information to respond to your messages and questions; to schedule, confirm, remind, cancel, or reschedule pastoral appointments; to record your interest in volunteering and connect you with the relevant ministry leader; and to share information about church events and activities. We do not use your information for advertising and we do not sell it to third parties.
Who we share it with
We share data only with church staff (pastors and leaders) when needed to handle your appointment or request, and with technology providers that operate the service on our behalf: Meta Platforms (WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram), Google (calendar), our automation and hosting provider, and AI providers that help generate responses. These providers process data solely to provide the service to us. We may also disclose data to authorities where required by law.
Data retention
We keep your information only as long as necessary to provide the service and meet legal obligations. Appointment and volunteer records are kept while a legitimate pastoral or administrative purpose exists, then deleted or anonymized.
Your rights and how to delete your data
You may request to access, correct, or delete the information we hold about you at any time. By message: send the word DELETE to the assistant on the same channel (WhatsApp, Messenger, or Instagram) and we will handle your request. By email: write to admin (at) carismahchurch.org, stating the channel and the name or number you used. We will delete your data within a reasonable time, except what we must keep to meet a legal obligation.
Giving and payments
If you give online through our website, the payment is securely processed by Stripe; we never see or store your full card details. Zelle gifts are handled directly through your bank. The virtual assistant does not process payments.
Security
We apply reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. No system is completely infallible, but we work to keep your data safe.
Children
Our assistant is intended for adults and the church community. We do not knowingly collect data from minors without parental or guardian consent. If you believe a minor has provided us data, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will be posted on this page with its update date. Last updated: July 13, 2026.
Governing law and complaints
Carismah Church is a religious organization based in Katy, Texas (United States). This policy is governed by the laws of the State of Texas and applicable U.S. federal law, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act. If you have a privacy concern, please contact us first at admin (at) carismahchurch.org. You may also file a complaint with the Office of the Texas Attorney General (www.texasattorneygeneral.gov) or the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC, reportfraud.ftc.gov).
Contact
If you have questions about this policy or your data, email us at admin (at) carismahchurch.org.