We have a unique opportunity and responsibility to bring children into a loving and caring relationship with Jesus Christ. We do this through our care, love, instruction, and nurturing of them while they are with us. Caring for children has become an important part of our church's ministry, and as such it enables families to worship with us. Most importantly, the children amoung us now represent the future of the church of Jesus Christ. The experiences that children have at a church will shape their views of God and the world. A warm, safe, friendly, and loving experience at church will bless them with the security of the knowledge of a loving and trustworthy God as they venture into a larger world. They will have the opportunity to relate to people fo all ages, and they will learn the privileges and responsibilities of living in community.

 

This safety policy serves several purposes. It seeks to raise our awareness of potential problems in the care of our children, it establishes set procedures to safeguard children's well being, and it delineates resources that may be necessary in the event of an emergency. However, more than a policy of the church, safely nurturing our children must be an attitude of our hearts. Thus it requires the help of all members of the church family, young and old, to foster an atmosphere where children can safely grow in mind, body, and spirit.