Tuesday, October 27th, 2015
Admins—You’ve probably noticed that we’ve updated our website and expanded our focus. In addition to churches, we now serve schools, school districts, and other organizations that serve children and youth. Because of this change, we want to make sure your users know that when they register with Safe Gatherings, they will be given several options […]
Read More >>Friday, October 23rd, 2015
Imagine this scenario: You are a volunteer in the tweens group at your church. Julia is a 12-year-old girl who is in a wheelchair and requires assistance with bathroom activity. Your group is short-staffed, so you are sent alone to help her use the restroom. Is this acceptable? The answer is NO. Remember the two-person rule? […]
Read More >>Thursday, October 1st, 2015
Whether you are 25 or 65, you can probably remember a time when you were bullied or you witnessed someone being bullied. It’s an ugly part of society; nevertheless, it does happen quite frequently. In fact, some research shows that 90 percent of children in grades 4 to 8 report they have been bullied at […]
Read More >>Friday, September 25th, 2015
If you work with children in a church, school, or other organization, you should be alert to unusual changes in a child’s behavior or moods. Recognizing and responding to abuse is part of our role as leaders—whether as clergy, teachers, staff, or volunteers—and we should be ready to take action if we have concerns about […]
Read More >>Thursday, July 23rd, 2015
Imagine this scenario: You are a volunteer at a camp that your church sponsors every summer. There is a historic school on the grounds of the campsite, and the campers are gathered there listening to a character talk about what school was like in the 1800s. During the presentation, a child indicates to you that […]
Read More >>Thursday, July 23rd, 2015
Working or volunteering in a church means you are exposed to people of all ages. Although many abuse stories are focused on children, it’s important to remember the older generations in our congregations. Elder abuse is a very real problem, and it affects seniors of all ages and backgrounds. Elder abuse refers to any knowing, […]
Read More >>Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015
It’s been a tough week at work, you aren’t making any progress and projects are piling up … or maybe you argued with your spouse before you came into church this morning. We all get mad once in awhile. Anger can be a normal, healthy emotion or a response to a threat when we are […]
Read More >>Wednesday, May 13th, 2015
Listen up! As a person who works in ministry, you are probably talking all day: engaging in conversations, solving problems, giving advice. Your work also puts you in the important position of listening to people, whether it’s a child or an elderly person. It is amazing what can be accomplished when we take the time […]
Read More >>Tuesday, May 5th, 2015
Imagine this scenario: You are a leader for a youth event, and three young people ask you for a ride home because none of the parents can pick them up. You know you shouldn’t be alone with a youth in the car, but there are three youth, not just one. Plus, you can’t reach any […]
Read More >>Tuesday, May 5th, 2015
As someone working with children and youth in ministry, you are often put in a place to give counsel about tough topics. Many parents are desperate to learn more information about protecting their children from sexual abusers. When people know better, they tend to do better. You can be a good resource, and this can […]
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