In light of last week’s horrific event, I thought it a good idea to write about the importance of protecting our students in an increasingly dangerous world. If adults, especially congressmen and women of our great nation, need security while playing baseball, how much more so do our children and youth? Protecting our young should always be a first priority in next generation ministry.
Students are used to practicing lock-down drills at schools. Students are all too aware of bomb threats and the protocols that go along with such a threat. In fact, not only is there a password given over a school intercom to notify teachers of a threat, there are different passwords given for different threat levels. And students know all the procedures that follow as they have rightfully been forced to incessantly practice for any given situation. With all of the hassle, it’s a wonder that students ever have time to learn anymore.
But in today’s world, the hassle is necessary. It may take longer for parents and students to enter in and exit out of school, but safety has to come first. The same should be true at churches and for next generation ministry. Security starts with protecting infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Parents should be required to sign their students in and made aware of the policies concerning drop-off, pick-up, and emergency procedures. Many parents of preschoolers are given beepers, so that if something happens to their child in the middle of the worship service, they can immediately respond.
All next generation leaders (volunteers who work with children and youth) should undergo a background check. This rule applies for leaders who work with the next generation every week (small group leaders, preschool workers, etc.) and for leaders who infrequently work with students (i.e., leaders who just help with summer camps, mission trips, etc.). Most churches have a policy in place requiring new members to have belonged to a church for six months before they are allowed to work with any of the church’s children or youth.
Next generation pastors aren’t CEO’s who are trying to run a student enterprise. No, first and foremost, next generation pastors are shepherds of their sheep. They are willing to take all necessary measures to protect their flock and that includes dying themselves. Thank God for the Capital Area police team that was willing to lay their life on the line. If they had not, twenty to thirty congressmen would have been massacred. There is no greater love for one than to lay down his or her life for his or her friends (John 15:13). Churches represent easy targets for terrorists and other like-minded crazy and deranged people, such as last week’s shooter in Alexandria, VA.
Last week, I did some kingdom-building work by helping a local church (not my own) conduct a mega-sports camp. I was impressed with the high security measures that the church put in place for the event. Some students might have thought the measures to be extreme, but we pastors and leaders understand that times have changed. On the last night (parent night), it was comforting to see a cop car parked in front of the church. Not only do parents feel comfortable about dropping their kids off at a church that takes security seriously, kids feel safe, and that is really what matters. Not to be overlooked, security measures also impact spiritual results. Last week, I saw eleven kids come to know Jesus for the first time in their life!
This weekend, I get the privilege of helping to work a block party event hosted by another church that I am not a member of. Will they have taken steps to guarantee the safety of all in attendance? I do not know, but I do know security matters.