Effective date: November 30, 2025
At Roots of Life Community (“Roots of Life,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), we try to Love Radically—God, all people, creation, and ourselves. That includes how we care for your information. This Privacy Policy explains, in plain language, what we collect, how we use it, and how you can stay in control when you connect with us online at rootsoflife.community and through our related email, SMS, RCS, and other communication channels (the “Site”).
By using the Site, you agree to the practices described here. If something feels unclear, we’d love for you to reach out and ask.
1. Who we are
Roots of Life Community is an inclusive, justice-minded Lutheran community in Noblesville, IN, seeking to live out the call to Love Radically through worship, service, and compassion for all.
We gather people of many backgrounds and stories. Online, that means we share worship info, events, ways to give, and ways to get connected—and we do our best to treat your information with care and respect.
2. Information we collect
We collect a few kinds of information, mostly so we can communicate well, stay organized, and keep things running smoothly.
2.1 Information you choose to share
You may share information when you:
- Fill out a contact or prayer request form
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- Register for a gathering or event
- Make a donation or pledge
- Volunteer or sign up to serve
- Communicate with us by email, phone, SMS, RCS, or other messaging tools
This can include things like:
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number (including mobile numbers)
- Mailing address
- Any notes you share (for example, prayer requests, questions, accessibility needs)
- Donation details (amount, frequency, designation – but not full card numbers)
You’re always free to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, understanding that some details may be needed for certain things (like sending you a receipt for a donation).
2.2 Information collected automatically
When you visit the Site, we and our service providers may automatically collect:
- IP address
- Browser type and operating system
- Device type (phone, tablet, computer, etc.)
- Pages you visit and links you click
- Date, time, and length of your visit
- Referring site or search term
We may gather this through cookies, logs, or similar technologies. See Cookies and similar technologies below.
2.3 Information from other services
We may receive information through tools we use to support our ministry, such as:
- Email/newsletter platforms
- Online giving or payment processors
- Event registration tools
- Social media platforms you interact with
The exact information we receive depends on your settings and the privacy practices of those services.
3. How we use your information
We use the information we collect to help us Love Radically in practical ways—keeping people informed, cared for, and connected. This includes:
- Providing, maintaining, and improving the Site
- Responding to messages, questions, and prayer requests
- Sending newsletters, event details, and community updates you’ve requested or that we reasonably believe you’ll find helpful
- Processing donations and providing acknowledgments and receipts
- Organizing volunteers, events, and small groups
- Supporting pastoral care and community connection
- Protecting the security of the Site and our systems
- Complying with legal and financial record-keeping requirements
We do not sell your information. Full stop.
4. Legal bases (where required)
In places where the law asks us to name a “legal basis” for handling your information, we may rely on:
- Your consent (for example, when you sign up for a newsletter)
- Legitimate interests (for example, communicating with you about events or pastoral care)
- Contractual necessity (for example, processing a donation you asked us to charge)
- Legal obligations (for example, tax and financial records)
5. Cookies and similar technologies
We may use cookies or similar tools to:
- Help the Site function properly
- Remember certain preferences
- Learn how people use the Site so we can improve it
You can adjust your browser settings to refuse some or all cookies, or to let you know when they’re being used. If you block cookies, some features may not work as intended, but you can still read about who we are and what we’re up to.
6. How we share information
We try to share information sparingly and thoughtfully.
We may share your information with:
- Trusted service providers
For example: web hosting, email delivery, event registration, donation processing, and messaging services (such as Twilio for SMS/RCS delivery). They are allowed to use your information only to perform services for us, not for their own marketing. - Roots of Life leaders and volunteers
When appropriate, limited contact information may be shared with staff or key volunteers to coordinate worship, events, care, and connection. - Legal or government authorities
If we believe we must do so to comply with the law, respond to lawful requests, protect rights and safety, or prevent harm. - Others, when you ask or consent
For example, if you specifically ask us to share contact info so you can connect with a group or ministry.
We do not sell or rent your information to third parties.
7. Online giving and donations
When you give online or set up recurring giving, your payment information is handled by our third-party payment processor, not stored by us in full form.
We may keep records of:
- Donation amounts and dates
- Your contact information for receipts and acknowledgments
- Preferences you indicate (such as where you’d like a gift directed)
These records also help us meet financial and tax obligations.
8. Email, SMS, and RCS communications
If you share your email address or mobile number, we may use it to:
- Send worship and event reminders
- Share news, updates, or invitations
- Provide pastoral care and follow-up
- Send donation confirmations or giving statements
For SMS/MMS/RCS messaging:
- By providing your mobile number and opting in, you agree that we may send you texts or rich messages (for example, through Twilio RCS or similar services).
- Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary based on events, announcements, or your participation.
- You can opt out at any time by following the instructions in a message (for example, replying STOP), or by contacting us and asking to adjust your preferences.
- We may use third-party services (such as Twilio) to send and manage messages on our behalf.
Your decision to opt in or out of text messaging does not affect your ability to worship with us or participate in our community.
9. Data retention
We keep information only as long as it’s reasonably needed:
- To provide the services and communications you’ve requested
- To support our ministry and community life
- To meet legal, tax, and accounting requirements
When information is no longer needed, we aim to delete it, de-identify it, or store it in a secure, archived form.
10. Data security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information against loss, misuse, and unauthorized access. Still, no system is perfectly secure, and we can’t guarantee absolute security of data shared over the internet.
If we believe a significant security issue has affected your information, we’ll do our best to communicate appropriately and in a timely way.
11. Children’s privacy
We delight in kids and youth. Online, though, we try to be extra careful.
Our Site is intended for a general audience and is not aimed at collecting personal information directly from children under 13 without appropriate consent from a parent or guardian. If you believe a child has shared personal information with us online without such consent, please contact us so we can address it.
12. International visitors
If you access the Site from outside the United States, please know that your information may be processed and stored in the U.S. and in other countries where our service providers operate. By using the Site, you acknowledge that your information may be subject to the laws of those places.
13. Your rights and choices
Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, such as the ability to:
- Request a copy of the information we have about you
- Ask us to correct or update information
- Ask us to delete certain information, subject to legal or practical limits
- Change your communication preferences
To exercise these rights, or simply to ask questions, please contact us using the information below. We may need to verify your identity before making certain changes.
You can always:
- Unsubscribe from emails using the link in the email or by contacting us
- Opt out of SMS/RCS by following the instructions in a message (for example, replying STOP)
14. Third-party links
Our Site may link to other websites, resources, or social platforms we don’t control. Their privacy practices are their own. We encourage you to review their policies before sharing information with them.
15. Updates to this Privacy Policy
From time to time, we may update this Privacy Policy to reflect new laws, technologies, or community practices. When we do, we’ll update the “Effective date” at the top of this page.
Your continued use of the Site after an update means you accept the revised policy.
16. Contact us
Questions? Concerns? Prayer requests? We’d love to hear from you.
Roots of Life Community
Website: rootsoflife.community
Mailing address: 347 S 8th St. Suite B, Noblesville, IN 46060