So You Want to Be a Child Safety Coordinator… Maybe?
Jennifer Estrada serves as the Associate Director of Children’s Ministry at Christ Journey Church in Miami, Florida, where she also leads as the Child Safety Policies Coordinator on the church’s Child Safety Team. With a professional background in Exceptional Student Education and over a decade of experience in Family Ministry, she brings both expertise and heart to her work in creating safe, Christ-centered environments for children. Her passion lies in child development and in laying a strong foundation of faith that allows children to experience the love of Jesus without obstruction. She believes that the first impression a child receives of God’s love can shape their entire life—and is committed to ensuring that nothing compromises that sacred opportunity.
I get it—child safety isn’t exactly the role everyone’s lining up for. It doesn’t come with confetti, stage time, or a cool Spotify playlist. But if you’ve found yourself here—whether by calling, conviction, or maybe just a “you’d be great at this!” conversation with your pastor—let me encourage you: it’s worth it. Like, really worth it.
When I stepped into the role of Safety Coordinator at Christ Journey Church, I didn’t have a handbook or a team of experts on standby. What I did have was a deep conviction that protecting children is one of the holiest and most practical things we can do as the Church. I also had a highlighter, a lot of questions, and a strong sense that this job was going to require more of God than me. That was probably the most important thing.
Let me say right away: if this feels too big, too complicated, or too much—good. That’s exactly where it should start, because it keeps you dependent on God. And you’re not doing this alone. There’s a whole community of safety-minded, Jesus-loving people out here who are rooting for you.
Here’s what I’ve learned so far, and what I’d tell anyone stepping into this role:
Start with What You’ve Got. Don’t feel like you have to overhaul everything in one day. Begin by pulling out any existing policies. Look for anything that outlines who is working with children and how they were approved. Ask questions like: Do we require a background check? A reference check? Is there a membership or attendance requirement before someone serves? Is there an actual interview happening? (And yes—ask for physical ID!)
Screening Is a Ministry. It’s not just a checklist—it’s the first line of care. Screening is how you create a safe, healthy environment from the ground up. Be honest about your process, and work with available staff or lay leaders to make it stronger.
Train Like It Matters—Because It Does. Child abuse prevention doesn’t stop with screening. It continues through ongoing, intentional training. Equip your leaders to: understand what abuse is and what it looks like, know their legal and moral responsibilities as Mandated Reporters, recognize grooming behaviors, and know what to do—and who to talk to—if something seems off. Ask yourself: How do we know our leaders are ready? If the answer is “because they love Jesus,” that’s a beautiful start—but not enough. Give them a manual. Review it with them. Check in often. When a leader feels informed and supported, they lead with confidence and care.
Build Support Systems. Policy without people is just paper. Surround your safeguards with real support—leaders, check-ins, and clear reporting pathways. At Christ Journey, we set up a direct email monitored by our Child Safety Team, a trained group that includes the Director of Family Ministry, staff from kids and student ministries, our Executive Pastor, and select trusted lay leaders chosen for their experience, roles in the church, or expertise in child advocacy and care. Right now, our team also includes a law enforcement officer, a board member who is also a parent and a leader who is an expert in the field of cybersecurity. This team reviews and responds to reports or concerns in alignment with our church’s Child Protection Plan and state laws. The email provides an accessible, confidential way for anyone—leaders, parents, or volunteers—to raise a concern, ask a question, or seek guidance. Sometimes it’s a clear report; other times, it’s just a gut feeling. Either way, the team takes it seriously. By making communication simple and visible, we create a culture where speaking up is expected—not intimidating.
Trust God with the Heavy Stuff. Your church is trusting you to be a guide. It’s an honor—and sometimes a weight. But God is more invested in protecting the vulnerable than we are. He’ll give you wisdom, provision, and divine nudges as you go. Trust Him. He honors your sacrifice of time, energy, and spreadsheets.
So, do you still want to be a Child Safety Coordinator? Maybe?
I hope so. Because you can do this—and you will. And the kingdom is better for it.
- ‘Don’t Leave Here and Do Nothing’: SBC Panel Calls Churches to Act on Child Exploitation
State and federal officials, survivors, and ministry leaders gathered at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting to move Southern Baptist churches from awareness to action on child abuse, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. She was going to church the entire time it was happening. That was the disclosure Olivia Littleton, senior director of Survivor Services for One More Child, made to a room full of Southern Baptist pastors and ministry leaders at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting. A survivor of sexual exploitation herself, Littleton made the point with quiet precision: the children the Church is trying to protect may already be sitting in its pews. - ‘When the Cute Factor Fades’: SBC Confronts a Gap in Disability Ministry That Leaves Vulnerable Adults at Risk
It starts, Shawn Thornton said, with what a father once described to him as the “cute factor.” When a child with disabilities is 5, 7 or 8 years old, people in the church light up around them. They talk to them. They engage. There is something about a small child with a disability that draws the Church toward them. But as that child grows, the hormones kick in and the body changes, and the behavioral complexity of adolescence sets in. The cute factor, Thornton said, was gone. And with it, too often, goes the ministry. “The church just misses that opportunity to pick up right there and provide a supportive, healthy community,” said Thornton, president and CEO of Joni and Friends, who opened the Stand Up Lunch in prayer at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting. - SBC Executive Committee Launches ‘The Fortify Initiative’ to Equip Local Churches in Abuse Prevention and Response
ORLANDO, Fla.— Jeff Dalrymple, Director of Abuse Prevention & Response at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee, announced today - Special Grace – Standing for the Vulnerable
I will never forget my first conversation with Tom Stolle. I know exactly where I was – driving through West Los Angeles in February 2023. I had to pull over as tears streamed down my face. At the time, I was serving with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP) and speaking with Tom by phone for the first time. We had been introduced by Keith Myer from BCM/D. I knew that Tom and I shared something deeply personal: we both have children with autism. His son, Jimmy, was in his 20s; my daughter, Kassie, was 16. - A Better Way to Handle Abuse
Sexual abuse in the church does not have to end in broken lives, agonizing lawsuits and divided congregations. As illustrated by the real-life abuse case described later in this post, when people follow God’s ways and words, these terrible incidents can result in healing, justice and healthier churches.