Child safety training is a simple church security measure almost any church can easily implement. The benefits to training children's ministry staff and volunteers in child abuse recognition and reporting are numerous.
It is an unfortunate fact in our society that children are abused sexually, emotionally and physically. Church volunteers often have contact with these children in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, or children's ministry events through community outreach programs where children are brought into the church.
Having an opportunity to stop child abuse can have a huge positive impact on a child who endures it repeatedly, but only when a church ministry team has had the proper training to recognize the warning signs for child abuse.
Church Security Alliance co-founder Glen Evans states, "A comprehensive child safety training program for church employees and volunteers is becoming as necessary as church background checks. Churches can no longer afford to ignore this most elementary, and easily implemented security step. Recent news reports highlight the fact we cannot ignore this issue any longer."
A church child safety training program should incorporate several elements. First, the program should be comprehensive and complete. The church volunteer should be able to define child abuse, recognize behaviors that identify potential abusers, and know how to report suspected abuse to authorities.
Second, a church safety program should be able to document that training has occurred and the person attending the training has an understanding of the material presented. Read More »
Nearly 40 churches in Washington and Idaho are the target of thieves
The following report details the results of a gang of thieves who targeted local churches in Washington and Idaho. It appears that while one of the thieves would distract the staff, another would take credit cards, wallets, purses and laptop computers, which would be sold or traded for drugs. The ring took items from nearly 40 churches. The credit cards were used to purchase electronic good for resale. Please be aware of this distraction technique and avoid leaving high value items unattended in plain sight of unknown visitors. Read More »
With the country at war we all need to be aware of suspicious activity at work, schools, malls, sports events and church in our cities and states. Read More »
On the evening of June 14, 2010, Solid Rock Church's 62 foot statue of Jesus was struck by lighting and burned, sending 100 foot flames into the air and taking responding fire crews hours to put out. Read More »
