All Posts
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Careful Grace: Integrating Offenders and Violent Criminals into Church
One of the most frequent questions we receive from churches and ministry leaders is about integrating offenders into church. They wonder “Should we do it,” and “What are best practices as we carefully consider protection and stewardship.” We as pastors and ministry leaders know first hand that God is in the business of changing lives.…
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Fortify Initiative equips church leaders to protect, even as they build
SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. – The Scripture verse printed on the front of a resource from the Fortify Initiative may not seem the most obvious choice for an effort focused on protecting the vulnerable. One might expect a verse about children or sheep. But the verse for Fortify is Nehemiah 4:17-18, which says that the men rebuilding…
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Practical virtual trainings help churches strengthen abuse prevention
Abuse prevention in ministry can feel overwhelming, but free online webinars offered by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Virtual Training Institute and MinistrySafe break complex safeguarding concepts into clear, actionable steps church leaders can implement today. The SBC Virtual Training Institute offers ministry leaders free, practical training designed to strengthen churches in safety, care, and…
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Advising on Whether to Limit Liability or Care for Victims
While abuse of a child by an adult is terrible, it’s usually straightforward to evaluate what is happening. But what about sexual misconduct between children? Is it always abuse? No. Is it always illegal? No. And what should we do about it? The impact on children’s lives is not measured by whether the actions are…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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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 the official launch of The Fortify Initiative during the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders meeting here. “The Fortify Initiative is a turnkey, ‘ready-to-assemble’ abuse prevention and response training model designed to equip local SBC…
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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…
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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.
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Access Control Is an Act of Love (Part 2)
Every church I have ever worked with says the same thing when the subject of access control comes up. “We want people to feel welcome.” And they mean it. The open door is not just a policy — it is a theology. The church exists to receive people, to gather them, to make room. Putting…
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Flipping the Narrative About Southern Baptists and Sexual Abuse
During Passion Week this year, I contemplated how it took the empty tomb to flip the narrative about Jesus. Leading up to the cross, the narrative was scandalous. Jesus was labeled a lawbreaker, usurper, heretic, and pretender. To most, the truth of the scandal was substantiated on Friday at the Cross. They supposed He wouldn’t…
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Access Control Is an Act of Love (Part 1)
Every church I have ever worked with says the same thing when the subject of access control comes up. “We want people to feel welcome.” And they mean it. The open door is not just a policy — it is a theology. The church exists to receive people, to gather them, to make room. Putting…
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Empowering Protection: The Essential Role of Abuse Prevention Education in Christian Schools
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” — Proverbs 22:3 The urgent need for abuse awareness and prevention education in Christian K-12 schools cannot be overstated. Alarming statistics indicate that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys under the age of 18 experience abuse,…
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Shepherding with Open Eyes: A Pastor’s Role in Abuse Prevention
After more than five decades in pastoral ministry, one sobering truth stands out: protecting the flock from sexual abuse is not a task that can be delegated. It is a core pastoral responsibility rooted in our calling as shepherds of God’s people (1 Peter 5:2-3). Oversight of souls includes vigilance over safety, especially for the…
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A Force for Good: Richard Hammar
Around 1992, attorney Richard Hammar, who founded Church Law & Tax, published one of the first child and youth protection resources for churches: Reducing the Risk. This abuse prevention material was based on research that Hammar had conducted starting in the 1980s determining that sexual abuse was one of the top legal issues for churches and…
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Cultivating Cultures of Goodness in Churches
A good gardener knows that fruit appears only when the right conditions for growth have been nurtured. Jesus often used agricultural metaphors, including the parable of the soils (Mark 4, Matthew 13, and Luke 8). While the parable focuses on individuals’ responses to the message of God’s kingdom, we can also apply it to churches…
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Essential Insurance Insights: Critical Topics for Youth & Community Service
In a time when organizations dedicated to serving youth and vulnerable community members are more vital than ever, ensuring the organization’s own long-term stability and protection is paramount. A crucial, often challenging, aspect of this stability is securing adequate Sexual Abuse or Molestation Liability (SML) coverage. The insurance market for SML has been “hardening”— coverage…
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“Let the Children Come”: A Vision for the Church to Value and Protect the Lives of Children
Jesus’ words still echo through time: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). These words were not just a gentle invitation—they were a command. A command to the Church to make room, to open arms, to clear the…
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Insurance and Accountability (Part 2): A Return to the Biblical Principles of Stewardship and Justice
When the Bible and prayer were removed from public schools in the early 1960s, secular humanism filled the void. Over time, the influence of Greek philosophy and worldly ideologies seeped back into the church—just as in Paul’s day—lulling believers into thinking life can flourish apart from God’s commands. Ken Ham reminds us that Genesis 1–11…
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Insurance and Accountability (Part 1): Examining the Causes of the Abuse Crisis in Churches
It is no secret that houses of worship are unfortunately engaged in a blistering crisis of adult and child sexual abuse. Beyond the atrocity of the abuse itself, some churches are increasingly guilty of concealing abuse and of placing unbiblical trust in man’s systems rather than God’s Word. Many American churches appear to be caught…
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Resilient Discipleship: Why Readiness Matters for the Church Today
In recent months, tragic headlines have reminded us again that churches are not immune to risk. From violence and fire to medical emergencies and storms, disruption often arrives without warning. Yet too often, churches either avoid the conversation out of fear or delegate responsibility to a small team of volunteers. The result is that when…
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Responding to Child-on-Child Sexual Misconduct
While abuse of a child by an adult is terrible, it’s usually straightforward to evaluate what is happening. But what about sexual misconduct between children? Is it always abuse? No. Is it always illegal? No. And what should we do about it? The impact on children’s lives is not measured by whether the actions are…
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Confidential Church Communications and Mandated Reporters
In every state, the law requires that certain professionals immediately report to authorities suspicions that a child has suffered abuse. If you are a pastor, elder, deacon, or other leader in your church and are informed of a situation in which a child may have suffered abuse, what are your obligations to report what you…
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SBC Abuse Prevention & Response department launches new Helpline
The SBC Abuse Response Helpline has experienced a significant update in conjunction with a new partnership with The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP). The Helpline can be contacted by calling 833-611-HELP or by visiting https://sbcabuseprevention.com/helpline. The website also features email and chat options.
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The Path Forward – Repentance & Accountability
When misconduct allegations surface, the clock starts ticking. Phones buzz, social media erupts, and the very people a congregation longs to protect begin asking hard questions. In those first frantic minutes, improvisation invites confusion; preparation invites clarity. Our churches—already under a media microscope for their handling of abuse—must have a plan in place long before…
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From Scramble to Strategy: How Southern Baptist Churches can Pre-Game a PR Crisis
When misconduct allegations surface, the clock starts ticking. Phones buzz, social media erupts, and the very people a congregation longs to protect begin asking hard questions. In those first frantic minutes, improvisation invites confusion; preparation invites clarity. Our churches—already under a media microscope for their handling of abuse—must have a plan in place long before…
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Guard the Gates
In John, Jesus gives this description of the Good Shepherd and describes Himself as being the narrow door by which those who enter are saved. He talks about the thief and the robber climbing the fence to try to get into the sheepfold to harm the sheep. Then in verse 3, Jesus refers to the…
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Recognizing Abuse in Marriage: A Crucial Responsibility
Every marriage faces challenges, but not all problems are equally severe. As shepherds and counselors, we have a responsibility to not only address marital issues but also to recognize instances of abuse. This awareness is vital, as it enables us to discern what kind of support and counsel is needed. Abuse within a marriage context…
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Safeguards for Churches
Southern Baptists are a force for good – I have been inspired by Dr. Jeff Iorg’s common refrain as I have traveled with him and met Southern Baptist leaders. For more than 100 years, Southern Baptists have been a force for good throughout the U.S. and around the globe. We could spotlight the work of…
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Rotten Fruit: Sexual Sin in Culture
Sometimes life gets busy. Too busy to even take a piece of fruit for a quick snack when running out the door. This can have a negative effect when we purchase fruit for a healthy snack then let too much time go by and that fruit can deteriorate and turn from being something delicious and…
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Loving the Vulnerable with Your Actions
Sexual assault is an epidemic in America. Per Rape & Incest National Network (RAINN), every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted, and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. That should get your attention! It’s horrifying. It’s evil. For me, this issue is personal. As a parent of a young man affected by developmental and…
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Safeguarding the Vulnerable: Why Canadian Churches Must Prioritize Abuse Prevention
In recent years, the Canadian Church has come under increased scrutiny regarding its response to allegations of child abuse and clergy sexual misconduct. These incidents are not only morally reprehensible and spiritually devastating—they also carry serious legal and financial implications. Churches are entrusted with the care of the most vulnerable among us. To honour that…
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Suggested Best Practices for Use of the DOB and SSN in Searching for Criminal Records
Screening and training of childcare workers is a must for any child- and youth-serving organization. Parents entrust our organizations with the care of their children, so we have a responsibility to be diligent in discerning who has access to those children. If our ministries are to be safe places for kids to hear the gospel,…
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So You Want to Be a Child Safety Coordinator… Maybe?
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…
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Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws: What Church Leaders Must Know
Every state has a mandatory child-abuse reporting law on the books. But many pastors and church leaders are unaware of these statutes, let alone their need to comply with them. Now is the time for church leaders to familiarize themselves with these laws, how they work, and what to do if the unthinkable–a suspected case…