Deletion is immediate and permanent. There is no undo, no grace period, and no way for us to restore an account once it's gone. If you only want to stop the emails, turn off notifications in Account settings instead — that leaves your account intact.
How to delete your account
Sign in at beyondthemessage.net — on your phone or on a computer, using the same email and password you use in the app — and then:
- Open Account settings. Tap the account button in the top bar of the archive.
- Find "Delete account." It's the last section on the page, outlined in red.
- Tap "Delete my account," then confirm. You'll be asked once whether you're sure. Confirming deletes the account right then and signs you out.
If you can't sign in
Use the forgot-password link to regain access, then follow the steps above. If that isn't possible, email hello@beyondthemessage.net from the address on the account and ask us to delete it. We'll confirm it's really you, complete the deletion within 30 days, and email you when it's done.
What gets deleted
Deleting your account permanently removes:
- Your login — your email address and password hash.
- Your profile — your church membership, your role, and your notification preference.
- Your Ask history — every question you've asked and every answer you received, across every sermon.
- Your access to your church's archive. You'd need a new account, and a code from your church, to come back.
What stays, and why
| What | Why it isn't deleted |
|---|---|
| Your church's sermons, transcripts, and study guides | This content belongs to the church, not to your account. It stays in the church's archive for everyone else. Church staff can delete it. |
| Cached answers | When a question is answered for the first time, the answer is cached for the sermon so others don't have to wait for it again. Cached entries carry no link to who asked — there is nothing in them that identifies you. |
| Encrypted backups | Deleted records may remain in routine encrypted backups for up to 30 days before those backups age out and are overwritten. |
| Records we're required to keep | Limited records we must retain to meet a legal or accounting obligation, kept only as long as that obligation requires. |
If you're church staff
Deleting your own staff account doesn't delete your church's archive or its other accounts — it only removes you. Before you go, make sure someone else at your church has a staff account, or nobody will be able to publish new messages. If you want the church's entire archive removed, email us from an address we can verify as belonging to the church.
Need help with this?
Email hello@beyondthemessage.net and we'll walk you through it. See also the privacy policy for how long data is kept.