We believe that as Christ-followers, protecting the next generation starts with us. Christians have the best answers for protecting children, equipping parents and leaders, and caring for the abused because our biblical worldview shapes us. With shocking reports of sexual abuse and alarming statistics on digital threats and exploitation, what can parents and ministry leaders do to protect our kids and train them to be wise in a hyper-sexualized world? How do we care for those who’ve been victimized by those inside or outside of the church? We start by creating safe places to hear the gospel, heal from past pain, and to grow in discipleship in our Christ-centered organizations. It begins with ministry leaders, then moves upstream to educate and equip parents.
Join us at The Gospel Coalition Conference for this Auxiliary Event.
Please contact Jeff Dalrymple if you have any questions regarding this Auxiliary Event.
The Gospel Coalition and ECAP have partnered together to host a discussion aimed to provide a biblical response to this critical issue. Don’t miss this important and timely panel conversation moderated by Courtney Reissig and including author and TGC editor Jared Kennedy, attorney and ECAP counsel, Sally Wagenmaker, former US Marshals Service director John Clark, and author and educator Dr. Lynne Little. What can Christians do to safeguard the next generation through diligent child and youth protection and care without crossing the line into “safetyism.” Learn about specific tools and best practices for ministry leaders seeking to answer these critical questions.
Presenters:
Moderator: Courtney Reissig – Educator, Mom, Advocate
Courtney Reissig is a writer and bible teacher living in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is the proud mom of four sons, happy wife to Daniel, and author of three books: The Accidental Feminist, Glory in the Ordinary, and Teach Me to Feel: Worshiping Through the Psalms in Every Season of Life. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, The Gospel Coalition, and Christianity Today (among other publications). When she is not writing or wrangling kids, she enjoys running and a relaxing Friday night. Her family belongs to Immanuel Baptist Church. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram (@courtneyreissig).
Jared Kennedy – Author & TGC Editor
Jared Kennedy serves as managing editor for books and curriculum for The Gospel Coalition. He is series editor for TGC’s Hard Questions series and author of books like The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible and The Story of Martin Luther. He and his wife, Megan, live with their three daughters in Louisville, Kentucky, where they are a part of Sojourn Church Midtown.
Sally Wagenmaker – Lawyer & ECAP General Counsel
Sally Wagenmaker provides legal counsel in corporate, tax, employment, and real estate matters for nonprofits operating on local, national, and international levels. Her clients include churches and other religious organizations, social service providers, and schools. Sally lives in Chicago with her husband Dan, and they have two children in college.
Lynn Little – Educational Consultant
I have enjoyed a career in education that spans more than 25 years. Over the years, I have had opportunities to work in early childhood, to work as an elementary classroom teacher, a high school teacher, and an adjunct college instructor. I spent numerous years working as a school administrator serving as an elementary principal, and working as an academic dean covering curriculum, credentialing, testing, and accreditation. I have an understanding and appreciation for the structure of K12 Christian schools and the administrative burden for particularly smaller to mid-sized schools. In these schools, there is no multi-faceted admin construct. There are a handful of folks making all things happen. This is the reason Compass Education LLC exists! Compass Education’s mission is to support schools in their season of need. When a school requires a level of expertise in curriculum, policy, accreditation, or professional development, Compass Education contracts to assist and support for “such a time as this.”
John Clark
John Clark recently retired after a long and distinguished 42-year career serving honorably in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. John began his career in the public sector serving briefly in the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Capitol Police and then more extensively he worked for the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) for more than 28 years. John served in many top leadership positions within the USMS. After retirement from the USMS, John began his private sector career as the Director of Security Operations for the Information Systems and Global Solutions business sector of the nation’s largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin Corporation. John finished his lengthy career in the nonprofit sector having retired in April 2022 as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In his capacity as CEO, John was the chief child safety advocate for NCMEC and as such helped shape public policy and encourage community action to ensure every child has a safe childhood. John has testified before Congress, the European Commission, and EUROPOL as a subject matter expert regarding the global problem of child exploitation. In addition, John was credited with growing the organization to over 400 employees and an annual revenue base of more than 60 million dollars, all of which was focused on finding missing children and stopping child exploitation. More recently, John and his wife became owners/operators of Harvest of Hope Farm, LLC in Culpeper, Virginia where they grow produce in large quantities, 100% of which is donated to regional food banks. John’s roots as the son of a dairy farmer brought his career life full circle where he now once again enjoys the agrarian lifestyle.
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