Did you know that churches and other events and places where people gather are regarded as soft targets for attackers and terrorists? As such, it is crucial that church security is stepped up, especially in the children’s area. To the person visiting or attending your church, a simple instance of kids leaving classrooms and walking around outdoors, unauthorized adults in the children’s area and children being allowed to leave with people other than those who checked them in can be viewed as a huge security risk. It is therefore important that every church have a church security children’s ministry safety plan. Coming up are a few considerations to include in your plan.
1. Background checks
- Every volunteer who joins the children’s ministry should go through a thorough background check. If there any areas of doubt, these should be discussed with the individual. If, after the discussion, the areas of concern cannot be resolved, encourage the person to join another ministry, after talking to the leader of that ministry.
2. Check-in and out policies
- Every church, as part of the church security children’s ministry safety plan, should have an official check in and out policy for the children’s area. As the children come in, they should be logged in and given an ID sticker. The parent or guardian should be given a similar sticker that they will use when they return to pick up the child. Note that the person who drops off the child should sign in when doing so, and should be the same person who returns to pick the child up.
3. Procedures
- Make sure you have a plan for security breaches as well as for prevention of serious security issues. The plan should have easy to follow steps in the event that something happens, and clear prevention strategies. This set of procedures should be posted where the entire children’s ministry team can see them.
4. Training
- Well-trained volunteers are an asset to the children’s ministry. Because they understand their roles and responsibilities better, they are bound to stay active and involved for longer periods. Every church must, therefore, train its volunteers on its procedures for keeping the children safe, so that each one of them is clear about the safety measures, procedures, and church safety policies.
5. Oversight
- Another important part of the church security children’s ministry safety plan is external oversight, i.e. people who are not directly involved in the children’s ministry should also keep a watchful eye on what goes on in there. The church leadership should develop a team of individuals who can help identify the weak spots in the children’s ministry security plan, including keeping tabs on who is in the children’s area and what they are doing there. Ideally, there should be CCTV within the children’s church, as well as strategically placed alarm buttons.
6. Updates
- Lastly, the church security team should constantly stay updated on any new developments in the area of security. Upgrades and improvements to the current security system should be done often. In addition, the church can consider getting an independent security expert to do a periodic assessment on the safety of the children’s area.
Making a church security children’s ministry safety plan is of paramount importance for any church because nothing is more important than safeguarding the children that God has entrusted to you!