Safe Ministry for Junior Leaders: The Eight Steps

When I started at Hope Anglican Church, part of my job was to get our junior leaders (we call them “Leaders in Training” or “LiTs”) up to date with their safe ministry training (aka safeguarding training). 

Safe Ministry training is really, really important. In Mark 10:14, Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” If we fail to take safe ministry seriously, we risk hindering God’s children from hearing the gospel. This is a big deal. We all have a part to play in ensuring its success. 

While the safe ministry training process may seem a bit complex at first, I reckon it's more manageable than it appears. To simplify things, I've created this step-by-step guide. I send this list out to all parents of junior leaders when they indicate an interest in serving in children’s ministry. Feel free to take and adapt as suits your context.

Note: We use a Google form for the Safe Ministry Check. However, this is not a free personal account—it's not safe enough. We do it through Google Workspace (free for churches in Australia) and use two-factor authentication to ensure the security of our data. 

STEP 1.

Parents/guardians provide written permission for each Junior Leader (LiT) and email to <insert email> (if done by hand, please scan or take a photo and then send). 

STEP 2.

Junior Leaders (LiTs) then create an account on the Training website and supply me with the email address used for that account.

STEP 3.

I will add your name and email to the Hope Junior Leader training account (https://courses.safeministry.training/jl-group-management/)

STEP 4.

You will then receive an email, giving access to the course. Click on the link and do the course. It should take about one hour. 

STEP 5.

When finished, the Junior Leader (LiT) should contact me to discuss how they found the training. 

STEP 6.

Then you can complete the online component of the safe ministry training. You will need to enter this code: <code> (I give them the code in this email, trusting that they won’t complete step 5 until they’ve done step 6!)

STEP 7.

Complete the Safe Ministry Check for 13-17 year olds (this is different to the Safe Ministry *Certificate*).

STEP 8.

Email the completed Safe Ministry Certificate to <insert email>. Confirm with me that you have completed the Safe Ministry Check.

I know I said there were only eight steps. But there are two bonus steps just for me. I don’t share this with the parents. Because they don’t care. But I’ll share them with you.

STEP 9.

Update the relevant details on Elvanto (our church database), and upload relevant documents to the person’s Elvanto profile, ensuring that the upload is set to “private” to ensure … privacy.

STEP 10.

Update our legend Kids’ Minister that the person is good to serve.

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 

1 Peter 4:11