Engaging the Word · The 4031 Family
Privacy Policy
01
Who We Are
Engaging the Word is developed and operated by The 4031 Family. When this policy says "we," "us," or "our," it means The 4031 Family. When it says "the app" or "the Service," it means the Engaging the Word application (available on Android and iOS) and its supporting server infrastructure.
Questions about this policy can be directed to privacy@the4031family.com.
02
Information We Collect
We collect only what we need to operate the app.
| Category | What it includes | Why we collect it |
|---|---|---|
| Device identifier | A randomly generated UUID created on first launch and stored on your device | Create an anonymous account so your progress is saved before you sign in |
| Account | Name and email address provided by your Google or Apple account (when you choose to sign in) | Link your anonymous progress to a named account; sign-in and account management |
| Progress | Puzzle completions, best times, difficulty level, reading plan progress, daily streaks | Sync your progress across sessions; show your history |
| User content | Bible notes and word highlights you create | Store and sync your personal study content |
| Approximate location | City, region, and country inferred from your IP address via a third-party geolocation service (ip-api.com); your IP address is also stored | Understand where our users are located; may inform ad targeting |
| Device & ad data | Advertising ID, device type, IP address — collected by our ad partners (see Section 5) | Serve interstitial and rewarded ads within the app |
We do not collect your phone number, contacts, camera, or microphone. We do not use third-party analytics SDKs.
03
How We Use Your Information
Data collection begins when you first open the app, before you sign in. A randomly generated identifier is used to save your progress anonymously. If you later sign in with Google or Apple, your anonymous progress is merged into your named account.
- Operate the app — authenticate your account, save and sync your puzzle progress, reading plan progress, notes, and highlights.
- Improve the experience — understand which features are used (based on our own server logs, not third-party analytics).
- Serve ads — display interstitial and rewarded ads within the app. Approximate location may be used to inform ad targeting. Ad delivery is handled by our advertising partners (see Section 5).
- Communicate with you — respond to support or privacy inquiries sent to our contact address.
We do not sell your personal information directly to third parties. We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling beyond what is described here.
04
How Your Data Is Stored
Your account, progress, notes, and highlights are stored on our servers. Data is transmitted over HTTPS. We authenticate via Google and Apple Sign-In and never receive or store your password.
We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.
05
Third-Party Services
The app uses the following third-party services. Their data practices are governed by their own privacy policies.
Google AdMob
Serves interstitial and rewarded ads. May use the Advertising ID for personalized ads and measurement.
policies.google.com/privacy
Meta Audience Network
Serves interstitial and rewarded ads. May use device identifiers for ad targeting and measurement.
www.facebook.com/privacy/policy
ip-api.com
Receives your IP address on each login to return an approximate city, region, and country. This location data is stored on our servers and may inform ad targeting.
ip-api.com/docs/legal
You can opt out of personalized advertising at any time through your device settings: Settings → Privacy → Ads → Reset or opt out of Ads Personalization (Android) or Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising (iOS). Opting out does not remove ads; it limits ad personalization.
06
Information Sharing
We share your information only in the following circumstances:
- Advertising partners — Google AdMob and Meta Audience Network receive device identifiers to serve and measure ads, as described in Section 5.
- Geolocation service — your IP address is sent to ip-api.com on each login to determine your approximate location, as described in Section 5.
- Bible text provider — Bible text is retrieved from api.bible (American Bible Society). Requests include standard HTTP headers; we do not send your account information to this service.
- Legal requirements — if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our users or the public.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party.
07
Children's Privacy
Engaging the Word is not directed at children under the age of 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at privacy@the4031family.com and we will delete that information promptly.
Users must be at least 13 years of age to create an account. The app is otherwise suitable for all ages as a Bible reading and puzzle application.
08
Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate information
- Delete your account and associated data
- Opt out of personalized advertising (see Section 5)
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@the4031family.com. We will respond within 30 days.
09
Security
We use industry-standard measures including HTTPS encryption in transit. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. We will notify affected users promptly in the event of a data breach that affects their personal information.
10
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we will notify you within the app. Continued use of Engaging the Word after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11
Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or your personal data, please reach out:
The 4031 Family
Email: privacy@the4031family.com
We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days.