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Privacy Policy

GEM Teams Online Privacy Policy

Last Updated: July 21, 2025
Related information: Impressum | Cookie Policy (EU)
Our website address: https://gemteams.org

GEM Teams (“us”, “we”, or “our”) is a ministry of Greater Europe Mission and operates under its oversight and data policies. This Privacy Policy applies specifically to GEM Teams and the information collected through our communications, websites, applications, and forms, and any associated platforms (the “Service”).

This page outlines our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you interact with GEM Teams and the choices you have concerning your data.

We use your information to facilitate and improve the experiences, services, and communications related to GEM Teams. By engaging with GEM Teams, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms used in this Privacy Policy carry the same meaning as those defined in the Greater Europe Mission Terms of Service.

Definitions

Personal Data: Refers to any information about a living individual who can be identified from that data (either on its own or in combination with other information in our possession or likely to come into our possession).

Usage Data: Information that is automatically collected through your use of the GEM Teams website or digital services (for example, how long you spend on a page or how you interact with a form).

Cookies: Small text files stored on your device that help us provide a better experience and analyze how our Service is used.

Data Controller: The individual or organization that determines the purposes and methods of processing personal data.

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, GEM Teams, operating under Greater Europe Mission, is the Data Controller of your personal data.

Data Processor (or Service Provider): A third party (not employed by the Data Controller) who processes personal data on behalf of the Data Controller.

GEM Teams may use trusted Service Providers to process your data more effectively. For example, we use Mautic to manage communications such as newsletters.

Data Subject: The individual whose personal data is being collected, in this case, you.

User: Anyone who interacts with the GEM Teams program or website. The User is considered the Data Subject.

Information Collection and Use

We collect various types of information to provide, support, and improve the GEM Teams ministry and your experience with our services.

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data

While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you ("Personal Data"). This may include, but is not limited to:

  • Email address

  • First and last name

  • Phone number

  • Mailing address (including city, state/province, ZIP/postal code)

This information may be collected when you apply to serve on a team, request information, subscribe to updates, or communicate with GEM Teams staff or coordinators.

Cookies and Usage Data

We may use your Personal Data to contact you with newsletters, ministry updates, or information that may be relevant to your interest in GEM Teams. You may opt out of these communications at any time by following the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us directly. For details, see our full EU Cookie Policy.

Usage Data

We also collect information about how you access and use the GEM Teams Service ("Usage Data"). This may include:

  • Your device’s IP address

  • Browser type and version

  • Pages visited

  • Date and time of access

  • Time spent on pages

  • Device identifiers

  • Diagnostic and performance data

This data helps us improve website functionality and understand how users interact with our Service.

Tracking & Cookies Data

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like beacons, tags, and scripts) to monitor activity on our website and store certain information.

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or notify you when a cookie is being sent. If you disable cookies, some portions of our website may not function properly.

Examples of Cookies We Use:

  • Session Cookies – to operate our website

  • Preference Cookies – to remember your settings and preferences

  • Security Cookies – for protection and fraud prevention

Use of Data

GEM Teams, as a ministry of Greater Europe Mission, uses the collected data for various purposes, including:

  • To provide and maintain our Service

  • To communicate with you about your involvement with GEM Teams (e.g., application status, team logistics, or training information)

  • To notify you about updates or changes to the GEM Teams program or related services

  • To allow you to participate in interactive features, such as team communication tools or application forms

  • To provide participant support and respond to inquiries

  • To gather feedback or data to improve our program and operations

  • To monitor usage and performance of our website and communication tools

  • To detect, prevent, and address technical issues or security concerns

  • To share news, opportunities, and resources related to missions, volunteering, or other ministries that may be of interest, unless you opt out of such communications

Retention of Data

GEM Teams, under the umbrella of Greater Europe Mission, will retain your Personal Data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.

We will retain and use your data:

  • To comply with legal or regulatory obligations (e.g., financial or tax requirements)

  • To resolve disputes

  • To enforce our agreements and policies

  • To maintain communication history and participation records for future engagement or reapplication

Usage Data is typically retained for shorter periods, unless it is required to:

  • Improve the security and functionality of our Service

  • Provide long-term analysis for ministry effectiveness

  • Fulfill legal or technical obligations

All data is handled with appropriate safeguards and reviewed periodically for relevance and necessity.

Transfer of Data

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to—and maintained on—servers or computers located outside your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction, where data protection laws may differ from those in your location.

If you are located outside the United States and choose to provide information to us, please note that your data will be transferred to and processed in the United States in accordance with applicable privacy frameworks and internal data protection standards.

By interacting with GEM Teams or submitting your information, you consent to this transfer.

GEM Teams, as part of Greater Europe Mission, will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is handled securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy. No transfer of your Personal Data will take place to any organization or country without adequate data protection controls in place to safeguard your information.

Disclosure of Data

Disclosure for Law Enforcement

Under certain circumstances, GEM Teams, as part of Greater Europe Mission, may be required to disclose your Personal Data in response to lawful requests by public authorities—such as a court or government agency.

Legal Requirements

We may also disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

  • Comply with a legal obligation

  • Protect and defend the rights or property of GEM Teams or Greater Europe Mission

  • Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with our services

  • Protect the personal safety of users, volunteers, staff, or the public

  • Protect against legal liability

When Do You Collect Information About Me?

We collect personal information at various points of interaction with GEM Teams. This includes:

When You Provide It Directly

You may give us personal information when you:

  • Submit a team application or interest form

  • Communicate with GEM Teams staff by email, phone, or video call

  • Sign up for newsletters or prayer updates

  • Provide information through our website or forms

When We Receive It Indirectly

Your information may be shared with us by trusted third parties, including:

  • Service providers who support application, communication, or donation processes (e.g., Cedarstone Partners, Inc.)

  • Staff or volunteers involved in team coordination or referrals

  • Partner churches or ministries involved in team recruitment or mobilization

When It Is Publicly Available

In some cases, we may access personal data that is available through public sources (e.g., social media, church websites, or online directories) to better connect or follow up with you.

When You Visit Our Website

When you browse our website, we automatically collect certain types of information such as:

  • Your IP address, browser type, and operating system

  • Time zone and language settings

  • Pages visited, length of visit, and referral sources

  • Clickstream data and browsing interactions

We use cookies and similar technologies for this purpose. (See the Cookies section above and our EU Cookie Policy for more details.)

We may combine data from these different sources to serve you more effectively and improve our programs.

Security of Data

The security of your personal information is important to us. GEM Teams, as a ministry of Greater Europe Mission, implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable and mission-appropriate means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

We encourage you to contact us if you have any concerns about the safety of your information.

"Do Not Track" Signals

Some web browsers include a “Do Not Track” (DNT) setting that lets you signal to websites that you do not want your online activity to be tracked.

GEM Teams does not currently respond to “Do Not Track” signals. Like many websites and ministries, we do not alter our data collection and use practices when we detect such a signal from your browser.

You can enable or disable “Do Not Track” in the preferences or settings section of your web browser.

Your Rights

As part of Greater Europe Mission, GEM Teams takes reasonable steps to help you access, manage, or remove your Personal Data as permitted by applicable data protection laws.

If you are located in the European Union or other jurisdictions with similar privacy regulations, you may have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you

  • Correct or update inaccurate or incomplete personal data

  • Request deletion of your personal data, where applicable

  • Restrict or object to certain types of data processing

  • Request data portability, allowing you to obtain and reuse your personal data for your own purposes

You can exercise these rights by contacting us at:
📧 [email protected]

Please note that we may ask you to verify your identity before responding to your request. Certain legal or operational limitations may affect how we respond, but we will make every effort to meet your request where possible.

Service Providers

GEM Teams may engage third-party companies and individuals (“Service Providers”) to support our programs and services. These providers may help us:

  • Operate the GEM Teams website and communication platforms

  • Process applications and forms

  • Analyze how our services are used

  • Deliver newsletters, updates, and donor communications

These Service Providers have access to your Personal Data only as needed to perform their tasks on our behalf. They are contractually obligated not to disclose or use your information for any other purpose.

Analytics

We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze usage of the GEM Teams website and digital tools.

Google Analytics

GEM Teams uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, to understand how users interact with our Service. Google collects data such as pages visited, time spent on pages, browser type, and referring sites. This helps us improve our website’s functionality and content.

Google may use this data to contextualize and personalize ads within its own network.
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

For more information about Google’s data practices, please visit:
Google Privacy Policy

Payments

GEM Teams may offer resources, merchandise, or opportunities that involve financial transactions. In such cases, we use trusted third-party services to process payments securely.

We do not store or collect your payment card details directly. That information is provided securely to our third-party payment processors, whose use of your data is governed by their respective privacy policies. These providers comply with PCI-DSS standards, which help ensure secure handling of payment information.

Our payment processors include:

SMS/MMS/RMS Messaging Services

GEM Teams may use text messaging services to communicate with applicants, participants, or supporters for the purposes of updates, reminders, and ministry-related notifications.

We currently utilize the following third-party providers for messaging services:

  • Twilio

  • Powered By Text, LLC

Your use of these messaging features is subject to the terms and privacy policies of the respective service providers. Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and plan.

If you wish to opt out of receiving text messages from GEM Teams, you can reply “STOP” to any message or contact us directly.

Links to Other Sites

Our website and digital communications may contain links to external sites that are not operated by GEM Teams or Greater Europe Mission. These may include ministry partners, application tools, or resource providers.

If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s website. We strongly encourage you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit.

GEM Teams has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy practices, or policies of any third-party websites or services.

Children’s Privacy

GEM Teams does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18 (“Children”).

Our services and programs are not directed toward individuals under 18 without verified parental or guardian involvement. If you are a parent or guardian and you become aware that your child has provided us with Personal Data without your consent, please contact us immediately.

If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from a minor without appropriate verification or consent, we will take prompt steps to delete that information from our records.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or ministry operations.

When updates are made, we will:

  • Post the revised Privacy Policy on this page

  • Update the “Effective Date” at the top of the policy

  • Notify you via email and/or a notice on our Service, when appropriate

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled by GEM Teams, please contact us at:

📧 [email protected]