Blog
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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…
PREVENTION
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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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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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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…
RESPONSE
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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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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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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…
NEWS & UPDATES
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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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‘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…