Privacy Policy - New Mercies

Introduction

New Mercies ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use our mobile application ("App"). Please read this policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your data.

Offline-First Application

New Mercies is designed as an offline-first application. This means that:

All your journal entries, prayer requests, and personal data are stored locally on your device
Your data does not leave your device unless you explicitly choose to sync it
The app functions fully without an internet connection
We do not collect, transmit, or store your personal journal entries on our servers

Information We Do Not Collect

Because New Mercies is an offline-first application, we do not collect your personal content:

Your journal entries or personal reflections
Your prayer requests or prayer history
Personal information such as your name, email, or contact details (unless you choose to provide it)
Precise location data

Note: We do collect anonymous usage statistics through Firebase Analytics (see Third-Party Services section below) to help improve the app. This does not include any of your personal content or journal entries.

Data Storage

All data created and stored within the New Mercies app is saved locally on your device using secure local storage mechanisms provided by your mobile operating system. This includes:

Journal entries and reflections
Prayer requests and tracking information
App preferences and settings
Daily reading summaries and devotional content

Your data remains on your device and is not transmitted to our servers or third parties.

Security Features

To protect your privacy, New Mercies includes:

Passcode Protection: You can secure the app with a passcode
Biometric Authentication: Support for fingerprint or face recognition where available
Local Encryption: Data stored using your device's secure storage mechanisms

Third-Party Services

New Mercies uses the following third-party services to help improve the app experience:

Firebase Analytics

We use Google Firebase Analytics to collect anonymous usage statistics and app performance data. This helps us understand how the app is being used and identify areas for improvement.

What Firebase Analytics Collects:

App usage statistics (e.g., which features are used most frequently)
Device information (e.g., device model, operating system version)
App performance metrics (e.g., crash reports, app stability)
General location data (country/region level, not precise location)

What Firebase Analytics Does NOT Collect:

Your journal entries or personal reflections
Your prayer requests or prayer history
Your name, email address, or other personally identifiable information
Precise location data

All data collected by Firebase Analytics is anonymous and aggregated. This data is used solely to improve the app experience and is not shared with third parties except as described in Google's Privacy Policy.

App Permissions

New Mercies may request the following permissions:

Notifications: To send you daily reminders for journaling (optional, can be disabled)
Biometric Authentication: To secure your app with fingerprint or face recognition (optional)

All permissions are optional and can be denied or revoked at any time through your device settings.

Data Deletion

Since all data is stored locally on your device, you have complete control over your data:

You can delete individual journal entries or prayer requests at any time
You can clear all app data by uninstalling the app
You can reset the app to its default state through the app settings

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us through the app or visit our website at newmercies.app.