Providence Church was founded in 2005 by a small group of people committed to preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word, living out biblical community, and sharing the love of Jesus with those who have never experienced it. From the beginning, we have understood an often underrecognized reality of the local church: it is a family.
For those who have placed their faith in Christ alone for the forgiveness of sin, Scripture tells us we are not only forgiven, but adopted. We are God’s children—brothers and sisters in Christ. Few moments display this family reality more clearly than baby dedication.
Baby dedication gives parents the opportunity to stand before the church and commit to raising their child in the truth of Scripture, loving them with the overflowing love of Christ, and providing for and protecting them. At the same time, the church commits to walking alongside that family—encouraging them, serving them, and praying for them. It is a powerful picture of shared responsibility. We are in this together. As family, we must care deeply about one another’s spiritual and physical well-being.
When it comes to physical safety—especially the safety of our most vulnerable members, our children—the modern church has sometimes taken the path of least resistance. I do not say this as an accusation, but from experience.
Providence Church has long taken children’s safety seriously. To serve in our children’s ministry, individuals must be members of the church, complete an application, interview with the director, review and discuss the policies and procedures manual, shadow other ministry leaders, pass a background check, and complete abuse prevention training. While this may sound extensive, it is necessary. We live in a time when predatory behavior is tragically common, and children are often the primary target. Predators look for environments with the least resistance—places where systems are weak and vigilance is low. The consequences of abuse are devastating for individuals, families, and churches alike. We must remain vigilant.
Creating a culture of safeguarding requires full congregational commitment.
In 2019, we had the privilege of helping launch the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP), an organization dedicated to providing awareness, accreditation, and resources to Christian ministries that serve children. Prior to partnering with ECAP, we believed our systems were strong. We had documented processes and policies that reflected our desire for safety. Yet through evaluation, we discovered gaps we did not know existed.
Often, we do what we know to do—and fail to do what we do not realize is necessary. That principle applies directly to child safety. Many ministries operate with policies that create a perception of safety, but until those systems are thoroughly evaluated, unseen vulnerabilities remain.
ECAP’s work has been invaluable. They help churches assess current practices and implement standards designed to create truly protective environments. Change can be daunting, but safeguarding cannot be treated as a departmental issue. It must become cultural. Safety is not just a children’s ministry concern—it is a churchwide commitment.
Cultural change begins with leadership. If we say we are committed to providing a safe and worshipful space, we must model that commitment. At Providence, we began by partnering with ECAP to audit our policies and practices. When the evaluation was complete, we implemented changes step by step. Our children’s director led the effort, but the entire church was informed and engaged. The elders ensured that the necessary resources and support were provided throughout the process.
Importantly, staff and elders followed the same standards and protocols as everyone else. There was no special treatment. In fact, we expanded ECAP’s onboarding requirements to every volunteer role in the church. By standardizing the process, we reinforced that safety is not a program—it is part of our culture.
The safest environments are created when everyone is watching, aware, and willing to speak up. Safeguarding works best when it becomes a shared responsibility.
The church is a family. And in a healthy family, everyone plays a part in protecting and caring for one another—especially the most vulnerable.