Force for Good Award
The Force for Good award is presented annually by of the SBC Executive Committee to a Christian leader who has shown excellence and faithful leadership in the areas of abuse prevention and/or response. This person may have demonstrated a consistent commitment to innovation and advancement of abuse prevention measures as well as dedication to appropriate, Christ honoring response to abuse, and thoughtful, meaningful care for survivors. Whether through raising awareness, developing resources, training and equipping ministry leaders, or other means, this individual represents what it means to be a Force for Good by championing the cause of abuse prevention in ministry.
Nominate a Force for Good
Do you know someone who fits this description? We invite you to nominate them to recieve the award in the future. Fill out the form below to tell us who and why you believe that they are a Force for Good in this era.
The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention is honored to present the inaugural Force for Good Award to Richard Hammar for his faithful service to the Church in abuse prevention.
2026 Recipient: Richard Hammar
Rich Hammar has a long legacy of commitment to serving the Church. As founder of Church Law & Tax, he authored many resources designed to aid churches in understanding law and risk management. He developed one of the first child and youth protection resources for churches: Reducing the Risk after researching thousands of cases involving churches and ministries and determining that sexual abuse of a minor is consistently the No. 1 reason churches go to court.
Rich has led with courage, tenacity, and innovation to strengthen Christ’s Church through these important safeguards. The impact of his legacy will not fully be realized until glory, but countless kids have been able to safely attend church programs, hear the Gospel and grow in discipleship free from abuse thanks to Rich’s work. Southern Baptists stand in appreciation of his service.