‘Stand Up’ event sponsored by the SBC Abuse Prevention and Response department calls churches to protect one of society’s most overlooked and vulnerable populations.
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NASHVILLE (BP) — The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention will host “Stand Up: Standing for Vulnerable Adults Against Abuse and Exploitation,” a ticketed luncheon on Tuesday, June 9, during the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. The event is sponsored by the SBC Executive Committee’s Abuse Prevention & Response department and will convene ministry leaders, disability advocates, and abuse-prevention experts to address a crisis the Church can no longer afford to overlook.
The urgency is personal for Tom Stolle, executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, who will moderate the event. As the father of a young man with significant developmental disabilities, Stolle knows the statistics are not abstract. His conversation with Jeff Dalrymple, SBC Executive Committee director of Abuse Prevention and Response, inspired Dalrymple to write about the issue in Baptist Press — an account that underscores the calling at the heart of this event.
“Individuals affected by disabilities are abused at a rate well in excess of the general population,” Stolle said. “As a parent, I understand that statistically my son will most likely experience sexual abuse in his lifetime. That is both tragic and intolerable. Psalm 82:4 calls us to rescue the weak and the needy and deliver them from the hand of the wicked. As believers, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, protecting the most vulnerable in our churches. The Church should excel at loving these individuals well, and protection from abuse is a key way that love is displayed.”
Jeff Dalrymple, SBC Executive Committee director of Abuse Prevention and Response, said the event reflects the denomination’s commitment to protecting every person in every season of life. “Every person is made in God’s image. Every person is called to repent of their sins and turn to Christ through the gospel,” Dalrymple said. “We want to create a safe place — for kids as well as vulnerable adults — to hear the gospel and grow in Christ, free from abuse.”
“Jesus consistently moved toward those the world overlooked or marginalized,” said Shawn Thornton, president of Joni and Friends. “The Church must do the same, especially toward vulnerable adults who may quietly carry risks, fears, or wounds others never see.”
The luncheon will be held from 12PM to 2PM in Room W221B-C at the Orange County Convention Center. Tickets are $20 with lunch and $10 without, and are available at ecap.net/sbc26standup. The event is sponsored by the SBC Executive Committee.
The event features a distinguished panel of speakers with expertise spanning disability ministry, counseling, and abuse prevention:
- Tom Stolle — executive director, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, who will moderate the luncheon. Stolle has been a leading voice in disability ministry and brings a personal perspective through his son, Jimmy, who has special needs.
- Shawn Thornton — president of Joni and Friends, one of the nation’s foremost Christian ministries dedicated to serving people with disabilities and their families.
- Julie Lowe — Licensed professional counselor, author and abuse-prevention educator who serves on multiple panels at this year’s Annual Meeting. Lowe is currently working on standards for the protection of vulnerable adults.
- Kathy Kovalchuk — Special needs minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, bringing occupational therapy expertise to disability ministry.
- Daniel Ritchie — Motivational speaker born without arms who shares the gospel with more than 200,000 people annually.
- Sandra Peoples — Disability ministry consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, adjunct professor and author of “Accessible Church.”
- Kris Buckman — Children’s and youth ministry consultant for the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and a founding member of BCM/D’s sexual abuse prevention task force.
“Stand Up” is one of two abuse-prevention events taking place during the SBC Annual Meeting. On Monday, June 8, the SBC Abuse Prevention & Response department and One More Child will co-host “Bearing His Image,” a 90-minute panel on child protection, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation. Together, the two events reflect the denomination’s ongoing commitment to protecting every person — in every season of life.
Registration for “Stand Up” is available at ecap.net/sbc26standup. The 2026 SBC Annual Meeting runs June 8-11 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, FL.
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About the SBC Executive Committee: The SBC Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Southern Baptist Convention between annual meetings and serves as the fiduciary and corporate entity for the Convention. The Executive Committee’s Abuse Prevention and Response ministry works with SBC churches, state conventions, and ministry entities to prevent abuse and support survivors. For more information, visit sbc.net.
About the Southern Baptist Convention: The Southern Baptist Convention is the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, with nearly 47,000 churches and approximately 13 million members cooperating together to fulfill the Great Commission. For more information, visit sbc.net.
About the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP): The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP) is a national association of Christian ministries committed to child and youth protection from a biblical worldview. ECAP has established Child Safety Standards which are the basis of the only national, faith-based validation program resulting in an independent, evidence-based accreditation program. The accreditation seal represents peace of mind for parents and confidence for ministry leaders. ECAP is developing additional safety standards for vulnerable adults in collaboration with Joni & Friends and other disability ministries. Learn more about the Stand Up initiative.
About Joni and Friends: Founded in 1979, Joni and Friends has provided the hope of the Gospel and practical care to people living with disability around the globe for more than 45 years. The ministry serves 45 countries on five continents, distributing wheelchairs, hosting respite retreats, operating disability centers, and equipping churches to welcome people with disabilities. Ministry programs include Joni’s House, Wheels for the World™, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training. Joni and Friends also delivers daily inspirational media through radio programs and podcasts. For more information, visit joniandfriends.org.
