June 9, 2022
Written by Craig Cable, American Church Group of Colorado, Nebraska, Dakotas, Wyoming, Kansas
This summer is shaping up to be a banner year for churches offering Vacation Bible School (VBS) or summer day camps. After a couple of years of cancellations, mask mandates, and social distancing, that is refreshing and encouraging news.
As we prepare to welcome droves of children into our summer activities, we want to make sure that we do everything we can to make their experience enjoyable, memorable, and safe.
The following is a breakdown of several best practices and free resources to help ensure that your ministry is prepared and protected.
Unfortunately, volunteer numbers are one area that has not rebounded as well as others. Most ministries that I work with are struggling to attract volunteers back to serving; this is especially true in children’s ministry. While we may be spread a little thin, it is important that we not overlook the critical step of background screening of all our volunteers.
According to a 2021 article on ChurchLeaders.com, sexual predators may be targeting churches because it provides easy and often unchallenged access to children. This editorial piece identifies six reasons why sexual predators target churches. It draws its conclusions from a 2014 book written by Deepak Reju called On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church.
It is important to note that the very practice of requiring background checks of ALL volunteers can serve as a deterrent that will help keep potential offenders from attempting to serve. For checklists and best practices to make sure that you are doing everything you can to screen out potential threats, visit: https://www.brotherhoodmutual.com/resources/background-screening/
While we must identify individuals with a criminal history, we must also remember that only a third of sexual abuse incidences are reported. And of those that are reported, very few are criminally charged and prosecuted.
On average, 70 allegations of child abuse are reported in churches each week, according to studies reported by Christianity Today. Having guidelines for one-on-one interaction plus Implementing best practices such as the “Two-Adult Rule” and applying the “Rule of Three” would have prevented most, if not all, of those incidences.
As you prepare for the summer’s activities, you must communicate to your staff and volunteers that if they see something that does not look or feel right, they need to report it immediately. I also recommend that you identify a staff point person where those concerns can be directed in a timely and consistent manner.
Brotherhood Mutual offers a free download that is packed with best practices, checklists, and forms that you can use to keep your children’s ministry safe. Download it here at: https://www.brotherhoodmutual.com/resources/safety-library/publications/guidelines-for-ministry-workers/guidelines-for-ministry-workers/
Whether it is a medical emergency, a security threat, or the approach of dangerous weather, every ministry must have a plan in place before it finds itself in the middle of a crisis.
For medical emergencies, I would encourage you to have a well-stocked first-aid kit readily available. I am not just talking about a “boo-boo” kit with some Band-Aids. I am talking about an actual kit that can make a difference if someone is seriously hurt. For a handy list of basic skills needed and first-aid kit contents, visit https://www.brotherhoodmutual.com/resources/safety-library/risk-management-articles/disasters-emergencies-and-health/accidents-and-medical-response/first-aid-be-ready-to-respond/.
For security threats, I highly recommend having a designated person or persons watch for potential concerns and intervening when necessary. Those concerns could be anything from unauthorized contact by a non-custodial parent to concerning behavior that could lead to an injury or potential abuse. Having someone dedicated to this role will help them stay focused on the vital task at hand of keeping kids safe.
Summertime often brings a high likelihood of inclement weather. For summer activities that take place outside, you must have a backup plan at the ready should you need to retreat indoors. For example, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the “30-30 rule.” After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. You will want to suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
Here at American Church Group, we take the responsibility of being your risk management partner very seriously. We strive to identify and mitigate risks that may impact your ministry. If you ever have any questions or concerns about your policy or ministry practices, please don’t hesitate to contact your local agent or email our customer support team. We are here to help in any way we can.
Craig Cable - Director of Ministry Safety and Strategic Partnerships
Craig is a church safety expert and professional trainer dedicated to helping ministries serve their communities while still being vigilant to safety or security concerns. He was the lead developer of the Safe and Secure Church: The Ministry Approach training kit and is an author and guest speaker on the topic of church safety. He also serves as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff and leads the church safety team for a multi-campus ministry in Northern Colorado.
This summer is shaping up to be a banner year for churches offering Vacation Bible School (VBS) or summer day camps. After a couple of years of cancellations, mask mandates, and social distancing, that is refreshing and encouraging news.
As we prepare to welcome droves of children into our summer activities, we want to make sure that we do everything we can to make their experience enjoyable, memorable, and safe.
If you are planning your first volunteer or ministry trip abroad, it is important to know a few guidelines for traveling safely. There are some common pitfalls new travelers often struggle with that can be prevented with a little preparation. Here are 5 easy steps you can take to prepare yourself for traveling abroad safely.
As we enter the middle of 2022 amidst uncertainty in many areas, we continue to look at ways our ministries may be exposed. Inflation has reared its ugly head into the economy, and it has a massive effect on the construction industry, trickling into areas that matter to you and your ministry.
Cyber security is increasingly crucial in our technologically advanced world. Scammers use many schemes when attempting to steal your data, but you can outsmart them by understanding their methods.
Most ministry leaders don’t realize there is funding available to non-profit employers including churches, schools, colleges, and camps. This post includes some highlights about the credit and guidance on where to start to see if your ministry is eligible.
If your church is anything like mine, Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a big deal. Not just because it is central to our ministry’s outreach to young families, but because of the important role that VBS plays in the spiritual formation of children.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Though child abuse may not be something you could ever imagine happening within your ministry, sexual abuse of a minor is one of the top five reasons churches end up in court, according to Church Law & Tax. Studies also show that a child is much more likely to be sexually abused by a trusted adult than a stranger.
When severe storms strike, they can produce high winds and tornadoes. Damaging winds can wreak havoc on your ministry’s property and to buildings. A high wind event can crash debris through your windows, strip your siding, down trees on your parking lot, peel shingles off your roof, and fling back the flashing.
Thieves are taking advantage of soaring precious metal prices. Take steps to protect your ministry’s vehicles and property.
As the Director of Ministry Safety for our agency, I am dedicated to finding ways to help safeguard ministries like yours.
As temperatures plummet, the risk of freezing pipes jumps. Frozen pipes can cause costly messes that could also put your ministry on hold while you clean up.
On behalf of our agency, I recently participated in one such training which focused on strategies and tactics for responding as a single officer to an active safety threat in a school building.
If you’re anything like me (and maybe the rest of the world for that matter), you’re grateful to put the craziness of the past year behind us.
Preparing for this Christmas season may require additional creativity, due to the uncertainty of what COVID-19 may bring in our local community.
A mid-November deadline in the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings may have you wondering what the organization’s bankruptcy filing means for your ministry if you ever hosted or chartered Boy Scout Troops.
On October 10, 2020, in Denver, Colorado, a 30-year-old private security guard who was hired to protect a Denver news crew while covering protests was involved in a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a 49-year-old man.
Organizations that obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding through the CARES Act can have their loans forgiven, turning them into grants. To qualify, each borrower must file a forgiveness application with its PPP lender, proving that it followed the rules. If your church, school, college, or camp meets all the criteria, 100% of its loan can be forgiven.
Lessons learned from the front line of a wildland fire.
Four major wildfires are burning across Colorado, fueled by dry vegetation, drought and wind.
Ministries are creatively scrambling to continue their operations and safely engage their congregations with an array of online technologies during the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, hackers are ready to take advantage of the confusion with scams designed to steal valuable data or siphon funds from your ministry. Learn how to keep your ministry safe from scams.