The Lead Church Security Podcast

6. Handling a Child Abuse Report in Real-Time

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Episode Summary:

In this eye-opening episode of the Lead Security Podcast, host Preston Hocker delves deep into a critical issue faced by many church communities: recognizing and managing potential abuse. With over 20 years of experience in church security and as a fourth-generation pastor, Preston shares his expertise and practical insights into identifying signs of abuse, taking immediate action, and implementing thorough procedures to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for all congregants. Tune in to learn about situational awareness, the importance of incident reporting, and effective communication strategies when dealing with sensitive situations.

  • Situational Awareness: Understanding and practicing situational awareness is the first defense line in identifying potential abuse or neglect.
  • Immediate Action: Knowing the importance of not delaying when confronting potential abuse and involving the appropriate ministry directors and pastoral leadership.
  • Effective Communication: Strategies for having sensitive conversations without leading or interrogating, ensuring open lines of communication, and observing non-verbal cues.
  • Procedure and Reporting: The necessity of having clear, actionable procedures for abuse management and the role of incident reports in improving community safety.
    • "We didn't wait a day or even a minute. We immediately went to the parents and asked them to step out of service for a few minutes while we started our procedure."
    • "The first line of defense is always going to be being situationally aware."
    • "Reports provide objective information, through which leaders can identify areas of improvement and establish a culture of safety and security."
    • "When managing these types of situations with care, even a nightmare such as abuse or neglect has a way of leading people back to the foot of the cross."

      • Follow and Connect:

      • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadChurchSecurity
      • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadsecurity?igsh=MWI2aXZybTMweG1wZg==
      • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prestonhocker
      • Website: https://leadministry.com/lead-security/

        • Don't Miss Out! If you found value in this episode, make sure to like, share, and subscribe to our podcast. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies to keep your church community safe and secure. If you have any questions or need further resources, feel free to reach out via our social media handles or through our website.


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        The Lead Church Security PodcastBy Lead Ministry