Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms and Electronic Consent

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“User,” “you,” or “your”) and Strengthening the Saints LLC (“STS,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) governing your access to and use of the STS application, website at https://thewordbibleapp.com, and all related services (collectively, the “Service”).

By using the Service, you consent to conducting this transaction electronically and to the electronic formation of this agreement under the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act) and applicable state law. Electronic acceptance has the same legal force as a handwritten signature.

These Terms incorporate by reference our Privacy Policy and Copyright Policy, which are available at the Website and form part of this agreement.

The Service is a faith-based platform and is not neutral or viewpoint-agnostic. Content and participation may be moderated, restricted, or removed based on alignment with the theological standards and ministry purpose of STS.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years of age to use the Service. By accepting these Terms, you represent that you are at least 13 years old. If you are under 18, you must have the express consent of a parent or legal guardian to use the Service, and that parent or guardian agrees to be bound by these Terms on your behalf. Use of the Service by anyone under 13 is strictly prohibited.

By using the Service, you represent that: (a) you have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract; (b) you are not barred from receiving services under applicable law; and (c) your use of the Service complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

3. Account Registration and Security

To access certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and keep it updated
• Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials and not share them with any third party
• Notify us immediately at info@wordbibleapp.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account
• Accept full responsibility for all activity that occurs under your account, whether authorized by you or not

STS reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for any reason or no reason, in our sole discretion.

Certain features of the Service may be accessed through unique share links or invitation links (“Unlisted” or invite links). These links function as access credentials. You are responsible for safeguarding and distributing such links appropriately. STS is not responsible for unauthorized access resulting from your sharing or disclosure of such links.

4. Church and Organization Accounts

Churches and organizations seeking to use STS's Shepherd features must apply and receive written approval from STS administration. By applying, you represent that your organization is a legitimate, legally recognized church or Christian ministry. STS reserves the right to decline or revoke church or Shepherd status at its sole discretion, with or without cause.

Shepherd Admins and Shepherds accept the following specific obligations:

• Use Shepherd privileges exclusively for the spiritual edification of their congregation and in accordance with these Terms
• Publish only content that is doctrinally sound, consistent with STS's Doctrinal Statement, and legally permissible
• Not access, export, or misuse member personal information for any purpose beyond the intended Shepherd function
• Promptly notify STS of any suspected misuse of the Shepherd system by any person within their organization

Any “Verified” or similar status assigned to a church or organization reflects only that the organization has met STS's administrative or operational requirements for platform features. Such status does not constitute an endorsement, certification, or guarantee of the organization's teachings, leadership, or conduct.

STS provides tools for church leadership and does not independently verify doctrinal accuracy, pastoral decisions, or internal church governance. Responsibility for leadership decisions and use of the Service within a church context rests with the organization and its designated leaders.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the Service, directly or indirectly, to:

• Violate any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation
• Post, transmit, or share content that is false, fraudulent, misleading, defamatory, obscene, sexually explicit, hateful, threatening, or otherwise objectionable
• Harass, stalk, intimidate, bully, or abuse other users
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity
• Transmit unsolicited commercial communications (spam) or unauthorized advertising
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Service, its servers, databases, or networks
• Upload, transmit, or introduce any malicious code, viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, or other harmful content
• Upload or distribute content (including sermons, teachings, audio, video, or written materials) without having the necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the applicable rights holder
• Scrape, crawl, harvest, or copy the Service's content in bulk, or use automated tools to access the Service, without our prior written permission
• Interfere with, disrupt, or damage the integrity or performance of the Service or its underlying infrastructure
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service
• Use the Service to develop a competing product or service

Violations may result in immediate account suspension or termination without refund, at STS's sole discretion.

STS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine whether any content, user activity, or organization aligns with the doctrinal standards and purpose of the Service. Such determinations may be made at any time, regardless of whether similar content or conduct has previously been permitted.

STS may take any action it deems necessary to preserve the theological integrity, mission, and intended use of the Service.

6. User-Generated Content

You retain ownership of content you create and submit within the Service (notes, plan submissions, sermon notes, reflections). By submitting content, you grant STS a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable (solely to our service providers) license to host, store, reproduce, and display your content solely for purposes of operating and providing the Service.

This includes the right to retain and maintain historical records of your activity and content (such as prior participation in plans or previous uses of the Service) to support continuity of your experience. This license terminates when you delete the content or your account, subject to reasonable retention periods described in our Privacy Policy.

You represent and warrant that your content: (a) does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights; (b) does not violate any applicable law; (c) is not false, misleading, or defamatory; and (d) does not contain malicious code.

Content you submit to shared environments (including public plans, church plans, or cohorts) may be visible to other users based on the visibility settings of that content. You are responsible for what you choose to share.

STS has no obligation to monitor user content but reserves the right to do so and to remove or restrict content at its sole discretion, without notice or liability to you.

You acknowledge that STS may process, reformat, or standardize user-submitted content as necessary to support functionality, compatibility, and storage across the Service. Such processing does not affect your ownership of the content.

You are responsible for any content or access you share with others through the Service. STS is not responsible for how recipients of shared content further use or distribute that content.

STS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to review, remove, restrict, or disable access to any content or account for any reason or no reason, including but not limited to content that violates these Terms, poses legal risk, or is inconsistent with the doctrinal standards or ministry purpose of the Service.

7. Intellectual Property

All content, features, and functionality of the Service — including but not limited to source code, design, text, graphics, logos, icons, and audio — are owned by or licensed to Strengthening the Saints LLC and are protected by U.S. and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws. You are granted no rights in or to STS's intellectual property except the limited license to use the Service as described in these Terms. See our Copyright Policy for additional detail.

8. Fees and Payment (Future Services)

Certain features or tiers of the Service may, in the future, require payment of fees. If and when paid features are introduced, we will provide advance notice, updated Terms, and a clear description of pricing and billing terms at that time. No fees are currently charged for basic use of the Service as of the effective date above.

9. Third-Party Services and Links

The Service integrates with or links to third-party services (including Supabase, Bible translation APIs, and other content providers). STS does not control and is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, legality, or content of any third-party service or resource. Your use of third-party services is governed by their respective terms and privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.

10. Disclaimers of Warranties

STS is a discipleship and Bible engagement platform. It is not a substitute for the local church, pastoral counseling, licensed mental health services, medical care, or legal advice.

STS does not guarantee the theological accuracy, completeness, or applicability of any user-generated or third-party content available through the Service.

STS acts as a platform provider and does not assume responsibility for the conduct, decisions, or content of users, churches, or ministry leaders.

While STS seeks to maintain a platform aligned with its doctrinal standards, we do not and cannot review or pre-screen all content, users, or organizations for theological accuracy or alignment. The presence of content or participation on the Service does not constitute approval, endorsement, or verification by STS.

Users should not rely on the Service as a comprehensive or fully curated source of doctrinally accurate content. Responsibility for discernment, teaching, and application rests with the user and, where applicable, their local church leadership.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, STS'S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU PAID TO STS IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) FIFTY DOLLARS ($50). IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID ANY FEES, STS'S TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED $50.

STS is not responsible for actions taken by church leaders, Shepherds, or other users based on information or activity within the Service. Any reliance placed on content, guidance, or decisions made by third parties through the Service is at your own risk.

Some jurisdictions do not allow exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, the above limitations apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless STS and its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, licensors, and service providers from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to: (a) your use of the Service; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property or privacy rights; (d) any content you submit to the Service; or (e) any claims arising from content you upload, share, or distribute (including sermons, teachings, or media), or from your use of church, cohort, or organizational features. STS reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which case you agree to cooperate fully.

13. DMCA and Copyright

STS complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Our Copyright Policy, incorporated herein by reference, governs copyright infringement claims, DMCA takedown notices, and counter-notifications. Users who are determined to be repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated.

14. Dispute Resolution — Binding Arbitration

a. Agreement to Arbitrate

Except as provided below, you and STS agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service (“Dispute”) shall be resolved by final, binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, rather than in court. The arbitration will be conducted in the State of Florida, unless you and STS agree otherwise. The arbitrator's decision will be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

b. Class Action Waiver

YOU AND STS EACH AGREE THAT ALL DISPUTES WILL BE RESOLVED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, MASS, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of a class or representative proceeding. This waiver is a material inducement to STS to provide the Service.

c. Jury Trial Waiver

BY AGREEING TO ARBITRATION, BOTH YOU AND STS WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL.

d. Exceptions to Arbitration

Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property rights. Additionally, claims within the jurisdiction of small claims court may be brought in that court rather than in arbitration.

e. Opt-Out Right

You have the right to opt out of the arbitration agreement by sending written notice to info@wordbibleapp.com with the subject line “ARBITRATION OPT-OUT” within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. If you opt out, all other provisions of these Terms remain in full force.

f. Informal Resolution First

Before initiating arbitration, you agree to contact us at info@wordbibleapp.com and describe your Dispute in reasonable detail. We will attempt to resolve the Dispute informally within 30 days. Arbitration may only be initiated if informal resolution fails.

15. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For any matters not subject to arbitration, you and STS consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Florida.

16. Modifications to the Service and Terms

STS reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Service at any time, with or without notice, without liability to you. We may revise these Terms at any time. For material changes, we will provide at least 14 days' advance notice via email or a prominent in-app notice. Continued use of the Service after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree to revised Terms, you must stop using the Service.

Changes to the Service may affect how content is accessed, displayed, or shared, and STS is not responsible for any resulting loss of access or functionality.

17. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without cause, and without liability. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination: (a) your license to use the Service ends immediately; (b) we may delete your account data subject to our Privacy Policy retention schedule; and (c) provisions that by their nature should survive will survive, including Sections 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15.

Certain content you shared with other users (such as cohort discussions or shared plans) may remain visible to others after termination where necessary to preserve the integrity of those environments.

STS may delete or remove any content associated with your account at the time of termination or thereafter, subject to our data retention practices described in the Privacy Policy.

STS may suspend or terminate accounts, remove content, or disband organizations at any time in its sole discretion, including where content or conduct is determined to be inconsistent with the doctrinal standards, ministry purpose, or integrity of the Service.

18. Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our prior written consent. STS may freely assign or transfer these Terms — including in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets — without your consent. Any assignment in violation of this section is void. Subject to the foregoing, these Terms bind and inure to the benefit of the parties and their permitted successors and assigns.

19. Force Majeure

Neither party will be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from causes beyond that party's reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic, war, terrorism, government action, labor disputes, power or internet outages, or failures of third-party services or infrastructure. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to restore service as quickly as possible following any such event.

20. Legal Notices

All legal notices to STS must be delivered in writing by email to info@wordbibleapp.com with the subject line “Legal Notice” or by certified mail to:

Notices sent by email are effective upon confirmed receipt. Notices sent by certified mail are effective three business days after mailing. STS may provide notices to you by email to the address on your account.

21. General Provisions

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found by a court or arbitrator to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or severed if modification is not possible, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Waiver

No failure or delay by STS to exercise any right or remedy under these Terms will operate as a waiver of that right or remedy. A waiver of any specific breach does not constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and Copyright Policy incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and STS regarding the Service and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, warranties, and understandings, whether written or oral.

Headings

Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Terms.

No Obligation to Enforce Consistently

STS is not obligated to enforce these Terms uniformly or consistently across all users, content, or situations. Failure to act in one instance does not waive our right to act in another.

No Third-Party Beneficiaries

These Terms do not and are not intended to confer any rights or remedies on any person or entity other than you and STS.

22. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact: