Title Tuesday: The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide

Welcome to  Title Tuesday, my favorite day of the week! This day is dedicated to book suggestions and reviews. I write this portion of my blog because I am a big believer in the motivational speaker Charlie Jones' quote which says, "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” I try to meet as many new people as possible and to read everything I can. This is my way of sharing that information with you. If you are interested in understanding my rating system for books you can read my Book Review Explanation here and What I Believe here. If you want to check out what I am currently reading or what I want to read next, friend me on Goodreads. With all that being said, lets jump in!

This book was provided by Litfuse Group
in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. 

Today's book is a little more somber than our normal Title Tuesday posts but no less interesting and maybe even more important. The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries by Basyle Tchividjian and Shira M. Berkovits may not sound like an invigorating read, but if you are involved in ministry in ANY WAY AT ALL then I suggest that you take a look at this book. 

Tchividjian and Berkovits are frank and honest in their discussion of the dangers surrounding the Christian community. They don't pull any punches in the understanding of who can become a victim (both girls AND boys of any age!) and who can become a predator. They break the book down into sections describing what abuse may (or may not) look like. They clearly and decisively explain how to best safeguard children and staff members from potential issues. Tchividjian and Berkovits also do a really good job of  explaining how to respond to an issue involving a child and how to support survivors of abuse both inside and outside the church. 

Overall I would give The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries by Basyle Tchividjian and Shira M. Berkovits a solid B+ rating. It is a great book that all ministries should have on their shelves. The regular, everyday Christian might not find it useful in daily life. However, as a mother of two young boys and another little baby on the way, I probably don't have to state the fact that safety is a high priority for our family. Being a military family means moving often. When we move to a new duty station we have to start all over in finding a church, a babysitter, and friends that we are comfortable having our children be around on a regular basis. I have to say that protecting my children is often at the forefront of my mind especially when we are at a new duty station trying to find a new church. I know that for myself (as well as many other military families) it would ease my mind a great deal to know that these churches had a plan in place to prevent abuse issues from happening and a procedure for what to do in the absolutely horrific instance that it does happen. I would feel much more comfortable at a church that used The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries by Basyle Tchividjian and Shira M. Berkovits as a guide post for their ministries.