Texas Baptists and MinistrySafe to provide free child sexual abuse prevention training in Dallas

DALLAS – Texas Baptists, a state-wide denominational convention of more than 5,300 congregations, is partnering with MinistrySafe, a national leader in sexual abuse risk reduction, to provide nine regional child sexual abuse prevention training workshops throughout 2017.

Dallas County Cowboy Church will host one of nine Church Safety Workshops on Thurs., May 11. The workshop, which is free of charge to church leaders around the Metroplex, will be offered from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. and registration is required. Additional information is available at texasbaptists.org/ministrysafe.

“Texas Baptists takes very seriously the safety of children at church,” said Dr. David Hardage, Texas Baptists executive director. “We are taking a proactive approach in providing the proper training for church leaders to ensure a safe environment for children.”

The Church Safety Workshop is designed to provide practical information regarding accurate details about abuse and abusers, a description of an effective ministry Safety System, and the resources and tools necessary to create an effective Safety System.

“One of the most effective ways to communicate those three pieces is through these Church Safety Workshops,” said Greg Love, workshop facilitator and founder of MinistrySafe.

In 2016, the Texas Baptists Executive Board approved funding to make preventative trainings and resources available to church leaders around the state, emphasizing the need for stronger safety systems to be in place within church walls.

“Your leadership shared you do not have a crisis, but want to be on the front end of prevention,” Love said in an address to the executive board. “The BGCT is leading the way in helping equip churches.”

Visit texasbaptists.org/ministrysafe for more information and additional regional training dates for 2017.