We dwell in a broken world. Every human heart since has “sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But through God’s willing sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, our debts have been fully paid and we have new life through His death & resurrection. This beautiful story of redemption and salvation has been told for over two thousand years, and it continues to go forward as God’s people carry out the Great Commission until He returns. 

As we live in expectation, Christians come together through churches, schools, and other ministries as we strive to shine the light of the Gospel into a broken world. Yet sadly this brokenness can find its way into Christian fellowship, too. The heartbreaking truth is that the most vulnerable people within our congregations and ministries– the elderly, widows, orphans, special needs, or children of all ages–are often the most endangered. Despite the fact that the church is called to give special care to the vulnerable, stories of abuse experienced within the walls of the church abound. 

These allegations represent both a deeply traumatic experience for the victim, and also tangible damage that has been done to the witness of the Gospel. We are calling on ministry leaders from around the country to stand up for the most vulnerable people in their care and ensure that these spaces are safe from abusers and predators. Join the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention in Nashville for the inaugural conference on abuse prevention. We cannot seek to advance the Gospel without also protecting the vulnerable created in the image of God.