How safe are the kids in your ministry?

One of the most important aspects we always explore when interviewing grant applicants is what kind of background checks they run on their staff and volunteers. It surprises us when we come across a ministry that does not conduct any kind of background check. An interview and an application is not enough anymore to know that the kids are safe. At FKO, we work with all kinds of organizations and churches, big and small, but regardless of size, we believe that it is so important to protect both the children and the organization by having mandatory background checks on everyone interacting with the kids.

There are many different organizations that provide reasonable prices for comprehensive checks on potential volunteers or staff members. International Network of Children’s Ministry partners with Protect My Ministry to provide discounted background checks. Church Volunteer Central works with LexisNexis in providing affordable background checks for your ministry. Each offer different options allowing a ministry to choose the depth of the background check they wish to perform.

Another aspect to consider is if you partner with other ministries or churches. We often see organizations that bring in other ministries to assist in the program and reach more kids for Christ. If you are collaborating with another ministry for a summer camp or weekly outreach, it is essential to know that they also are conducting background checks on their volunteers. It is imperative to keep the children as safe as possible, and it is important to take the opportunity to protect your ministry in the possibility that something does happen. The book Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators by Voyle A. Glover provides great information to help keep your church, ministry, and children safe before anything ever happens. It even gives you a guide on what to do if any kind of incident does happen in your ministry.

For ministries and organizations that currently do not run checks on their volunteers and staff, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. We know that this will not stop every child who is victimized in any way, but it provides a peace of mind that a precautionary step has been taken. If anyone has other leads on affordable background checks, we would love to hear about it!

Lessons from a wheelchair

Joni Eareckson Tada has always been an inspiration to me. I first read her book “Joni” while I was in my 20’s and learned from her descriptions of daily life struggles when she became a paraplegic at age 17. It made a lasting impact on me. I’ve had the privilege of hearing Joni speak numerous times and meeting with her individually. She is always warm and so real that she makes her audiences and those she meets forget she is confined to a wheelchair. Her focus engages whoever is listening and makes them feel as though she has known them for years.

The lessons Joni had to learn after her life altering accident are well documented in her early books, and now I find myself having to learn some of those same lessons as I adjust to an ankle injury which required surgery on Christmas Eve.

Talk about life stopping while you adjust to wheelchairs, walkers, port-a-potties, sponge bathing, getting comfortable and spot exercising. This phase of my life will pass, but here I sit propping up my leg in a wheelchair with the realization that I have 10 more weeks of the same without driving or walking (yikes!)

I am thankful for all my body parts that do work, for family and friends that write, call, and come over, and most of all for God who through all of this is teaching me much. Needless to say, much has been learned and much more will be.

Joni has an organization called Joni and Friends which For Kids Only has given grant funding 4 times over the last 5 years. Click here for more information about Joni and Friends and to find out why we are pleased to partner with them. Please check out our other Special Needs resources in our bookstore.