By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Child sexual abuse risk in ministry contexts cannot be ignored. This statement implies child protection has been ignored by some ministries in the past. For most ministries, however, the challenge is ignorance of the problem. Most ministries are doing something, but not doing the right thing. Church Executive and […]
Read More >Protect your worshipers from armed intruder attacks By Rich Poirier Not long ago, anyone in search of a safe haven or spiritual guidance could turn to a place of worship knowing its doors would be open and its members welcoming. Offering a spiritual home to those in need is central to many faiths. But today, […]
Read More >When Crossroads United Methodist Church, Washington, Illinois, concluded their vision for ministry was significantly larger than their current footprint could handle, they began the long and expensive journey of relocating to a new site. In 2001, they constructed the first of a two-phase construction project that would change the course of their ministry forever. Relocating […]
Read More >Annual Report Shows Americans Gave Over $427 Billion to Charity in 2018 In June, Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute, released its latest annual report: Giving USA 2019: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018. According to researchers, 2018 was a complex year for giving due to a […]
Read More >
Expert advice for protecting the church’s children against sexual abuse and bullying — plus, how to mitigate internet-use risks What are the biggest risks and liabilities facing churches in the area of protecting children? Alex Smith: Allegations of sexual abuse are the greatest risk and liability. Also, complacency — saying, ‘We’ve always done it this […]
Read More >
Practical expert advice for a scary subject When using the term “disaster,” what types of events or circumstances are we referring to? Hillary Keller Bowling: The most common disasters are weather-related events such as hurricanes, flooding, tornados and wildfires. Other disasters are arson, accidental fire, active-shooters, and even cybersecurity events. Matthew McMaster: Every part of […]
Read More >
Sexual abuse: training ministry staff to care well AND prevent At the beginning of each new year, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions: evaluating our past year or present circumstances and resolving to improve on a particular matter (i.e., more time with the kids, less coffee, more exercise). For the Southern Baptist Convention, the […]
Read More >
Regular communication, accessibility and speed are at the heart of improved security. By Debi Davis When it comes to crisis situations, the state of events can change with every passing instant. If people can’t keep up with this rapid change, it can lead to disaster. A perfect example of this is the Battle of New […]
Read More >
For many people, churches are much more than just buildings. They are sacred spaces that carry great meaning to all who gather there for prayer, community, connection and spirituality. It is for these reasons that churches must take steps to provide safe spaces for occupants and mitigate risk on their properties. Purchasing insurance is […]
Read More >
Tips to Prevent Potential Injuries, Accidents and Losses By Guy Russ It happens every year, just before summer camp or vacation Bible school. Some kids develop a case of the “what ifs.” What if there are spiders? What if I get poison ivy? What if it rains every day? Experienced camp directors and conference center […]
Read More >