Before You Put Words on a Page
Let’s be clear about what we’re building together, and what that means for both of us.
The Contributor Agreement is a document provided to new contributors joining us for reading and signing.
It can feel intimidating at first glance. Full of legal language and formal clauses that seem a long way from the warmth of a ministry. But every line in it exists for a reason.
All these guideline articles were created with the mind to help you understand what it’s actually saying simply, so that you’ll see that it’s designed to protect you as much as it is to protect us.
Let’s walk through the most important sections in plain language.
1. Your Content Belongs To You
One of the first things the agreement makes clear is that you retain full ownership of everything you write. Rest Awhile™ does not take your intellectual property. You are the author. Your name stays on your work. Your rights remain intact.
What you are granting us is a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to publish, distribute, and share your content on our website, social media channels, and newsletters — indefinitely.
“Non-exclusive” means you can also publish the same content elsewhere. Your article on Rest Awhile™ does not have to live only on Rest Awhile™.
You write it. You own it. We get to share it with the world on your behalf — and that’s the partnership.
2. Compensation: Being Honest About Where We Are
Rest Awhile™ is a nonprofit ministry. We do not currently offer financial compensation for contributions.
We want to be completely transparent about that from the start, because we respect your time, and we will not pretend that a feature mention is the same as a salary.
What we do offer is real, even if it is non-monetary:
✅ Byline credit on every published article
✅ Special mentions for standout work
✅ Leadership opportunities as the ministry grows
✅ Features in editorial highlights
✅ A Contributor of the Month recognition
These are not consolation prizes — they are the natural expressions of a community that genuinely values its people.
Our hope and intention is that as Rest Awhile™ grows, financial compensation will become part of the picture.
When it does, the contributors who built this with us from the beginning will be the first people that the conversation is with.
3. Originality and Ethical Standards
The agreement requires that everything you submit is original, ethically sourced, and free from plagiarism.
This is non-negotiable — not because we distrust you, but because the integrity of everything we publish depends on it.
If you quote a source, cite it. If you draw from someone else’s idea, credit them. If you’re not sure whether something counts as plagiarism, ask.
All content must also be factual and responsibly sourced. We are not a sensationalist platform. We do not publish claims we cannot back up.
When you write about health, cite studies or qualified sources. When you write theology, handle Scripture carefully. When you write about productivity, ground your advice in reality.
4. Confidentiality
As a team member, you’ll have access to unpublished content, internal strategies, upcoming campaigns, and conversations that are not for public consumption.
The agreement asks you to honour that trust by keeping internal information within the team.
This is standard practice in any ministry or creative organization, and it protects everyone — including you.
5. If Things Don’t Work Out
Either party can end the contributor relationship at any time with written notice. If that happens, any content already published stays on the site — Rest Awhile™ retains the right to keep it as part of our content library.
But ownership of that content stays with you. You can republish it wherever you like.
Non-compliance with the guidelines — submitting plagiarised content, repeatedly ignoring editorial feedback, or disregarding the tone and mission standards — may result in removal from the active contributor list.
But the process is always grace-first: feedback, then revision, then a conversation, before anything more serious is considered.
6. The Governing Framework
The agreement is governed by Kenyan law (Check on our Terms and Conditions). This reflects the legal foundation of the ministry and is standard practice for a ministry with its legal home in Kenya.
If you have any questions about the agreement before signing — any clause that feels unclear or any term you want explained — please reach out.
We would rather you ask ten questions before signing than sign with uncertainty. This is a relationship, and it should start with clarity.
