Why Keeping Kids Safe Ministries?

We are a Christ-centered ministry that was researched and developed for two decades before serving our first church.

Cofounders Steve Vann and Greg Sporer invested thousands of hours evaluating sex offenders who attended church and studying church sexual abuse research. 

Together God has prepared us for this ministry through prayer and by testing church safety programs to discern what really keeps kids safe.  

                Contact us at 615-631-5075

kksministries@bellsouth.net

296 Frey St. Suite #3

Ashland City, TN 37015

How many sex offenders are churchgoers?

After 20 years of reviewing research, it is estimated 18%-24% of sex offenders are churchgoers.

There are 5 million + sex offenders in the USA including 600,000 registered offenders.  

What types of sex offenders attend church?

• Registered offenders attend church to worship and spirituality is part of their recovery
• Non-convicted offenders are turning to God in desperation to quit their sin before they are discovered
• Church-going men/women in secret sexual sin  who are going deeper and darker into sin, leading to sexual crimes.  In some cases, followed by shame, self loathing, and a temporary return to God, but absent of true change

What is new in 2010?

Kidsafe International Certification Program

We will be serving churches in all 50 states and mission organizations around the globe with our certification program.      

Included in the certification program:

• Initial safety training for youth workers and church leaders.
• Unlimited consultations to prevent crisis safety issues.
• On-going training for staff and youth workers 3x year Jan/May/Sep.
• 6 training sessions for the church kidsafe accountability coordinator.
• Audits to demonstrate church compliance on accountability standards.
• Risk verification process and Covenant of Accountability for church-going registered offenders.
• Training sessions for accountability partners

Certification program fee $375 annually. 

Why Church Certification?

• There are more churchgoers and staff with a history of sexual offending than there are churches.
• There is a conflict of interest when church leaders and youth volunteers police themselves without accountability.
• Churches must earn the public trust and demonstrate to the community that churches are protecting kids through adherence to safety standards.

It is reality sex offenders will and are attending churches.  There must be safety standards and accountability in all churches to protect kids. 

What makes our ministry so unique and effective?

We go to the source of the problem:

"The Secretive Church Member "

• We provide accountability, on-going training,  and safety standards for church leaders to protect kids from church sexual abuse 
• We utilize biblical solutions for dealing with registered offenders in churches
• We provide accountability and guidance for church leaders to manage churchgoers at risk for offending

How should the church respond to offenders?

II Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

·        We are not to fear!  Fear paralyzes the church to do nothing.  Children are at a greater risk for harm when registered offenders are without hope, lacking spiritual accountability, isolated, and attending church secretly.

·        We are to reach out without compromising safety!  Offenders attend church secretly out of fear that the congregation will reject them.  Children are safer when offenders replace secrecy for spiritual accountability.

·        We are to respond with wisdom and discernment!  Churches are responsible for protecting kids.  Churches need an expert ministry like Keeping Kids Safe because victims of sexual abuse, offenders, and children all worship together on Sundays. 

What is a Kidsafe Accountability Coordinator?

The coordinator (church mom or grandmother) will serve as a liaison between Keeping Kids Safe and her congregation to ensure church leaders are meeting safety standards.

What is the role of the Kidsafe Accountability Coordinator?

• To identify unsafe situations
• Coordinate on-going training 
• Assist with accountability for church leaders to meet safety standards by conducting audits

How do I start the process for my church leaders to be accountable?

• Email  kksministries@bellsouth.net  to notify us of your church leadership's desire for accountability
• We will email back to set up a question and answer session with your church leaders or  staff   

Cofounders Steven Vann and Greg Sporer

We provide biblical solutions to deal with sex offenders in our churches, ministries, and missions abroad  

It has been a blessing to serve:

Churches in 35 states and 2 countries, Focus on the Family, Trevecca University, Christian Television Network (Bridges), Bledsoe Baptist Association, Christian Chronicle, Christian Post, Associated Baptist Press, ABC Nightly News with Charles Gibson, WSMV Nashville, WMUZ Detroit, Guide One Church Insurance, Brotherhood Church Insurance, and Agape Counseling Center. 

How are we funded?

• Many sex offenders attend church for spiritual reasons instead of seeking professional help because of the mandated reporting laws 
• It is typical for offenders to offend on a family member, a neighbor, or a friend of the family and eventually they join a church to try to quit their secret sin 
• Many hidden registered offenders attend church to worship.  They worship in secret because they fear rejection by their congregation

Why are church sexual abuse prevention programs not enough?

• Most non-convicted offenders do not stop offending on kids. Instead, they are passed on to offend again elsewhere 
• Unfortunately, prevention programs do not deal directly with offenders and the secrecy of the sin prevents true repentance and change
• Church leaders are not held to any accountability standards for protecting kids.
• 90% of all sex offenders have spotless records and they can use their clean background checks to gain positions working with kids

How do you manage hidden church sex offenders when you can't see them?

• Reaching out to the source of the problem:  Our ministry has methods for church leaders to reach out directly to hidden offenders. Although many offenders are reachable due to their desire to quit their sin, most churches shy away from dealing directly with offenders out of fear or inexperience. 

The Question of the Day!

Would your congregation feel more secure having  Keeping Kids Safe Ministries serve your church?

What is next?

Please call 615-631-5075 or email kksministries@bellsouth.net to sign up today to start keeping kids safe at your church.