Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the MKDSCPLS platform, including our websites at mkdscpls.com and go.mkdscpls.com, and all related services, features, and content (collectively, the "Services"). MKDSCPLS is operated by Robert Krause ("we," "our," or "us").

By creating an account, accessing, or using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. If you are using the Services on behalf of an organization (such as a church), you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. Eligibility

To use our Services, you must:

• Be at least 13 years of age (in compliance with COPPA)
• If between 13 and 17, have the consent of a parent or legal guardian
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement
• Not be prohibited from using the Services under applicable law

We do not knowingly allow children under 13 to create accounts. For mission trip participation, minors must have a parent or legal guardian create a guardian account to consent to their participation.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

To access most features of our Services, you must create an account. When you do, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information (name, email address)
• Maintain and promptly update your information as needed
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account
• Accept full responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

3.2 Account Types

Our platform includes different account roles with varying permissions:

• Participant: Standard accounts for course participation, reading plans, and group membership
• Leader: Group and course leaders with access to participant progress within their assigned groups
• Organization Admin: Administrators who manage their organization's members, groups, and content
• Guardian: Parents or guardians with oversight of minor participants

3.3 Account Security

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. We strongly recommend using a strong, unique password and logging out when using shared or public devices. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account credentials.

4. Our Services

MKDSCPLS is a Christian discipleship platform that provides the following:

4.1 Discipleship Platform

• Online discipleship courses with assessments and comprehension checks
• Bible reading plans with daily email reminders
• HEAR journal for personal scripture reflection
• Group-based learning and community features
• Progress tracking, badges, and achievement systems
• Content library with supplemental resources
• Blog with discipleship-related content

4.2 GO Mission Trip Platform

• Mission trip discovery and applications (via go.mkdscpls.com)
• Fundraising tools and donation processing
• Document management and e-signatures
• Team coordination and trip logistics

4.3 Service Availability

We strive to maintain reliable and available Services, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or secure access at all times. We may, at our sole discretion:

• Perform scheduled or emergency maintenance with or without advance notice
• Modify, update, or discontinue features or functionality
• Experience downtime due to circumstances beyond our control

5. Acceptable Use

When using our Services, you agree NOT to:

• Violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation
• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or misrepresent your affiliation
• Harass, abuse, threaten, bully, or intimidate other users
• Post or transmit content that is hateful, discriminatory, defamatory, obscene, or abusive
• Share sexually explicit, gratuitously violent, or otherwise objectionable content
• Send spam, chain letters, phishing messages, or unsolicited commercial communications
• Upload viruses, malware, or any other harmful code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts, our servers, or our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the Services or the servers and networks connected to the Services
• Use automated means (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to access or collect data from the Services without our written permission
• Use the Services for any commercial purpose not expressly authorized by us
• Circumvent, disable, or otherwise interfere with security features of the Services

We reserve the right to investigate and take appropriate action against anyone who, in our sole discretion, violates this section, including removing content, suspending accounts, and reporting violations to law enforcement.

6. User Content

6.1 Your Content

You may submit content through the Services, including course responses, workbook answers, journal entries, assessment responses, feedback, support tickets, profile information, and uploaded files ("User Content"). You retain ownership of your User Content.

6.2 License to MKDSCPLS

By submitting User Content, you grant MKDSCPLS a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, store, display, reproduce, and distribute your User Content solely as necessary to:

• Operate and provide the Services (including displaying your content to leaders and group members as applicable)
• Improve, maintain, and develop the Services
• Create anonymized, aggregated analytics (which cannot be used to identify you)

This license continues until you delete your User Content or your account, except for content that has been shared with other users or anonymized for analytics purposes.

6.3 Content Visibility

Different types of content have different visibility levels:

• Private: HEAR journal entries and personal reflections are visible only to you and, where applicable, your assigned leaders
• Group: Course responses and group participation data are visible to members and leaders of your group
• Organization: Your membership and progress data are visible to your organization's administrators
• Public: Mission trip fundraising profiles and blog content may be publicly visible

6.4 Content Responsibility

You are solely responsible for your User Content. You represent and warrant that your User Content does not violate these Terms, any applicable law, or the rights of any third party. We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to review, monitor, or remove User Content at our sole discretion.

7. Payments and Subscriptions

7.1 Subscription Plans

Some features of our Services may require a paid subscription. By subscribing, you agree to pay the applicable fees as described at the time of purchase. Subscription details, including pricing and billing frequency, will be presented to you before you complete your purchase.

7.2 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. By making a payment, you also agree to Stripe's Terms of Service. We do not store your full credit card information on our servers. Stripe handles all payment card data in accordance with PCI-DSS standards.

7.3 Billing and Renewal

Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing cycle unless you cancel before the renewal date. You are responsible for keeping your payment method up to date. If a payment fails, we may suspend access to paid features until the payment issue is resolved.

7.4 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time. Upon cancellation, you will retain access to paid features through the end of your current billing period. We do not provide prorated refunds for partial billing periods unless required by applicable law.

7.5 Mission Trip Donations

Donations made through our platform to support mission trip participants are:

• Processed securely through Stripe
• Subject to the receiving organization's policies
• Generally designated for the specified participant or trip
• Potentially tax-deductible (consult the receiving organization and your tax advisor)

Donation refunds are handled according to the policies of the receiving organization. Donations may not be refundable once processed.

7.6 Price Changes

We reserve the right to change our pricing at any time. If we change subscription pricing, we will provide you with advance notice (via email or through the Services) before the new price takes effect. Your continued use after the price change constitutes acceptance of the new pricing.

8. Mission Trip Participation

8.1 Platform Role

MKDSCPLS provides a technology platform for mission trip coordination. We are a platform provider, not the trip organizer or operator. Individual churches, organizations, and ministry partners organize and operate the trips listed on our platform.

8.2 Application and Acceptance

Trip participation is subject to completion of the application process, approval by trip leaders, meeting all requirements (including background checks, required documents, and payments), and agreement to trip-specific terms and waivers.

8.3 Participant Responsibilities

As a trip participant, you are responsible for providing accurate personal and travel information, obtaining required travel documents (passport, visas), meeting payment deadlines, completing required preparation courses, following trip guidelines, and maintaining appropriate travel insurance.

8.4 Assumption of Risk

8.5 Trip Modifications and Cancellations

Trip organizers may modify or cancel trips due to safety concerns, insufficient participation, partner changes, or force majeure events. Refund policies for cancellations are determined by the organizing entity, not by MKDSCPLS.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 MKDSCPLS Content

The Services and all associated content -- including but not limited to software, source code, design, text, graphics, logos, icons, images, course curriculum, assessment materials, and blog content created by MKDSCPLS -- are the property of MKDSCPLS and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws of the United States and applicable international treaties. You may not:

• Copy, reproduce, modify, or create derivative works from our content without written permission
• Use our name, logos, or trademarks without prior written authorization
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of our software
• Remove, alter, or obscure any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices
• Republish, sell, or redistribute our course content or materials

9.2 Third-Party Content

Some content on our platform is provided by organizations, leaders, or third parties. Such content remains the property of its respective owners. You agree to respect the intellectual property rights of all content providers.

9.3 Feedback

If you provide suggestions, ideas, or feedback about our Services, you grant us a perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, incorporate, and build upon that feedback without any obligation or compensation to you.

10. Disclaimers

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we specifically disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

• Implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
• Any warranty that the Services will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free
• Any warranty regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any content
• Any warranty regarding the results that may be obtained from using the Services

10.1 Spiritual and Educational Content

Course content, reading plans, assessments, and other materials are provided for educational and spiritual growth purposes only. They do not constitute professional counseling, therapy, medical advice, or legal advice. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please contact a qualified professional or call emergency services immediately.

10.2 Third-Party Links and Services

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources. We do not endorse and are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, terms, or availability of any third-party sites or services.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, MKDSCPLS AND ITS OWNER, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY:

• Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages of any kind
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses
• Damages resulting from unauthorized access to or alteration of your account or data
• Damages resulting from any third-party conduct, content, or services
• Damages arising from mission trip activities, travel, or related events
• Damages resulting from any interruption, suspension, or termination of the Services

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY EXCEED THE GREATER OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) OR THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO MKDSCPLS IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you. In such cases, our liability will be limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless MKDSCPLS, its owner, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your use or misuse of the Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your User Content
• Your violation of any applicable law or the rights of any third party
• Your participation in any mission trip facilitated through the Services

13. Termination

13.1 Termination by You

You may close your account at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. Upon account closure:

• Your right to access and use the Services ceases immediately
• Any active subscription will not be renewed, but you will retain access through the end of your current billing period
• Your personal data will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy
• Content you previously shared with groups or other users may persist

13.2 Termination by MKDSCPLS

We may suspend or terminate your account, at our sole discretion and without prior notice, if you:

• Violate these Terms or any applicable law
• Engage in conduct that is harmful to other users, us, or third parties
• Engage in fraudulent, deceptive, or illegal activity
• Create legal liability or reputational risk for us

Where practical, we will provide notice before termination and an opportunity to export your data. However, we reserve the right to take immediate action when necessary to protect the safety of our users or the integrity of our Services.

13.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive (including but not limited to Intellectual Property, Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, and Dispute Resolution) will continue in effect.

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Informal Resolution First

Before initiating any formal legal proceeding, you agree to first contact us at [email protected] and attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will work in good faith to resolve any issues within 30 days of receiving your notice.

14.2 Governing Law

These Terms and any disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or the Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

14.3 Jurisdiction

For any disputes that cannot be resolved informally, you agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the United States for the resolution of any such disputes.

15. General Provisions

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any trip-specific agreements or waivers, constitute the entire agreement between you and MKDSCPLS regarding the Services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

15.2 Severability

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

15.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by us.

15.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under them without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms to an affiliate or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets without restriction.

15.5 Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email or by posting a prominent notice on the Services prior to the changes taking effect. The updated effective date will be shown at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

15.6 Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations under these Terms where such failure or delay results from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of government, internet outages, or other force majeure events.

16. Contact Us