It's Not Random

It can seem that life is full of tedious paperwork and processes. Sometimes even when you come to church and especially for our children’s and youth activities. You might have noticed some of the things we do in Kids Church and City Youth — permission forms at the start of the year, leaders in matching t-shirts or lanyards, kids starting in church with their families before heading out to their programs. You might have wondered why we do things this way.

The short answer: children are more vulnerable than adults.

They're smaller. They trust the adults around them. They can't always speak up when something isn't right. And because of that, they need extra layers of care and protection. That's what Safe Ministry is — our commitment to making sure every child and young person at St John's is safe, valued, and looked after.

Everything you see is intentional. When our Kids Church leaders wear their t-shirts, it's so you — and your children — can easily identify who is responsible for them. When City Youth leaders wear lanyards, it's the same idea. When the kids start in church with you and are brought back to you afterwards, it's because we believe the handover between parent and leader should be visible and accountable. We always have at least two screened adult leaders present in every program — not by accident, but by design. It protects your children, and it gives our leaders accountability and support as they serve.

When we ask you to fill in permission forms at the start of the year, it's so our leaders know how to reach you in an emergency, whether your child has any medical needs or allergies, and who is authorised to collect them. That information isn't filed and forgotten — our leaders have it on hand whenever your child is in their care.

And behind the scenes, there's even more you don't see. Every leader goes through a Working With Children Check, completes Safe Ministry Training, and is personally assessed before they're approved to serve. No exceptions. We do this not because we suspect anyone — but because your children are worth protecting.

None of this is random. It's all part of how we care for your kids.

And we need your help too. Safe Ministry isn't just the job of our leaders — it's something the whole church family shares. If you're a parent, keep an eye on your kids during the in-between moments — before the service, during morning tea, after church — when the programs aren't running and your children are back with you. And whether you're a parent or not, be part of creating a community where children feel safe, known, and looked after. A smile, a kind word, or simply being aware of the children around you makes a difference. If you ever notice something that doesn't seem right, please say something.

If you've ever wondered why we do something a particular way in our children's or youth programs, please ask. We're always happy to explain. And if you ever have a concern about the safety of a child or young person — at church or anywhere else — please speak with any of our pastors or our Safe Ministry Representative, Julia Kim.

Building a Safe Ministry culture is something we all do together. It's not just a set of rules — it's an expression of how seriously we take the care of every young person God has entrusted to us. And we're grateful to be doing it with you.

Bruce Morrison
Senior Minister

Pray for the safety of our children and young people

Give thanks for the Safe Ministry culture that is growing at St John's, where every child and young person is valued and looked after. Ask God to help the whole church family share in creating a community where children feel safe, known, and cared for. Ask God to protect every child in our care, and to give leaders, parents, and the whole congregation a deep sense of the responsibility of caring for every young person he has entrusted to us.