What’s Often Missed with Student Ministry Safety in Churches

Student ministry is often where rules about minors break down in the church. Student ministries don’t need fewer rules than children’s ministries, but they need different rules. Though rebellion seems to be a rite of passage for many teenagers, they are far more receptive to guidance than you might think. Josh and Sam discuss what’s often missed in churches.

• • Never alone applies to teens as well as children.
  • Document all major problems and incidents.
  • Offer professional counseling to those who can’t afford it.
  • Never promise confidentiality.
  • Zero tolerance for pornography.
  • Limit off-hours time with students.
  • Avoid excessive texting and social media interaction with students.

Resources:

• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

• Churchteams

• “Make My Church Safe” by Sam Rainer

• Safe Church Training

• FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights

• Church Answers Central

• The Hope Initiative

Episode Sponsors:

• • Pastors and ministry leaders are invited to apply now to be accepted into a new– fully online–PhD program at Southern Seminary.
  • The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Studies at Southern is not a series of recorded lectures. Scholars in this program will experience live interactions with the same professors who teach at Southern Seminary’s Louisville campus.
  • This program provides the opportunity for ministry leaders to engage in rigorous theological study while continuing to serve in their current ministry.
  • The PhD in Christian Studies includes seminars in New Testament and Old Testament exposition, historical theology, biblical theology, ethics, leadership, and discipleship.
  • Come join the long line of ministry faithfulness that dates back to 1892 when The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary launched the first seminary-based doctoral degree in North America. 
  • That degree became the PhD, and it has grown into one of the most respected in higher education.
  • Learn more at SBTS.edu/rainer

 

• • You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need.
  • Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments.
  • Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows).
  • Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how.
  • Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox.
  • Learn more at Churchteams.

The post What’s Often Missed with Student Ministry Safety in Churches appeared first on Church Answers.