Keeping Kids Safe

Dear friends,

This weekend we are taking all our Kids and Youth leaders away for training. Almost 100 of us will descend on Youthworks Port Hacking to hear from God as Bill Salier unpacks three essential biblical texts for ministry. We will also have sessions that will help us understand the central values of our work together, care for ourselves and each other and lead more proficiently. It really is an essential weekend and an important part of the strategy that ensures effective and creative Children and Youth ministry happens every week at Christ Church.       

The task that Josh Hayward and Lauren Dewhurst undertake each week to facilitate excellent gospel ministry to hundreds of young people is ginormous. But today, while I want to commend them to you to your prayers, there is one particular thing you can be doing to help ensure the ongoing safety of all the Children and Youth at Christ Church.

I would like all our church members, but particularly and specifically, all those who bring children to church with them, to complete Safe Ministry Training.

This training exists to inform and equip leaders, parents and church members for safe, godly and careful ministry to young and vulnerable people. It is compulsory for all those who serve in such ministry but when a whole church gets on board and gets trained, the safety of young and vulnerable people in our midst improves dramatically. 

As a church, we are robustly committed to Safe Ministry and I want us to work hard together to protect the children and young people in our care and the name of Jesus from those who wish to do evil. The more people who know about our Safe Ministry procedures and are trained in them, the better we will be as a community in protecting each other. 

This is why we are encouraging everyone in our community to complete the Essentials Safe Ministry Training Course. Again, the more people who know about our Safe Ministry procedures and are trained in them, the better we will be as a community in protecting each other. Moreover, on weekends like this one when all our regular leaders are away, you will be ready and equipped to serve the kids. 

To get started, head to the Safe Ministry Training website—there you’ll find the only Sydney Anglican approved training. And once you have completed the course, email us your certificate so we can thank you and also remind you to renew your training in three years time. 

Ensuring Safe Ministry is not just the job of Ros Lloyd our Safe Ministry Representative, nor is it just something for Josh and Lauren to worry about. Safe Ministry ought to be the concern of all of us so thanks for jumping in, being trained and being a part of making Christ Church St Ives a safe place for young and vulnerable people.