A Biblical Responsibility

Child Safety

The SF Child Safety Program has a dual aim of enabling SF to fulfill its biblical, ethical, and legal responsibility of protecting the children in its care, guarding their safety and well-being, as well as helping SF members protect their integrity in how they interact with and treat children.

Our Heart

Protecting, caring for, and supporting children in our care

For those of us who are followers of Jesus and who serve internationally, rightly understanding God’s view of children and our responsibility to care for them must undergird everything we do. Taking the Gospel and reflecting the life and work of Jesus to those who have not heard and do not know Him, which includes all children everywhere, requires that we make the safety and wellbeing of children a priority.

SF has a God-ordained responsibility for the care and nurture of its children and the children to whom we minister. This includes caring for their spiritual growth and general welfare, as well as safeguarding them from harm.

Child safety is part of faithful mission. — All children are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14).

Building awareness, trust, and empowerment

SF has implemented a Child Safety Program based on biblical truth to increase the safety of children in our care. Abuse tells children they are worthless, that God does not care about them, and that they do not have significance. Adults have the responsibility to keep children safe and teach them a correct view of God, in light of Scripture. In our broken world, children are often not seen, heard, or protected. SF members are obligated before God to do everything possible to protect, care for, and support the children in our care.

Safeguarding

SF is committed to the protection of children both in the treatment of SF missionary children as well as in our ministries to children around the world.

Ongoing Training

SF is committed to ongoing child safety training and development opportunities for all members and volunteers to build awareness, trust, and empowerment.

Accountability

SF is committed to clear expectations, reporting pathways, support for those impacted, and appropriate responses.

SF is a member of MinistrySafe.

Child safety program manual

The child safety program manual can be added here once the final file has been uploaded to the WordPress Media Library. Replace the button link below with the manual URL.

Download Manual

SF Child Safety Team

The Child Safety Team promotes the safety of children and the protection of SF workers through prevention and response strategies that fulfill our Biblical, legal and ethical responsibilities, thereby helping to preserve the integrity of SF. If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information regarding SF’s Child Safety Program, please feel free to contact any of the following people:

We may include further information on each team member, which is forthcoming.

CHILD SAFETY ADVOCATE Katy Doebler
A mother of four, Katy holds a BS in Special Education (K-12) and Elementary Education (K-8) as well as an MA in Education for Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Right Response instructor for her school district, she is trained in appropriate physical contact and procedures, identifying and addressing mental health concerns, and in writing Behavior Intervention Plans and Emergency Response Protocol. As classroom team leader, she works with five ladies she has trained. Katy is the Sunday School superintendent for Summit Park Bible Church and trains the teachers to whom she is available for consultation.

Katy and her husband Steve, an SF board member, have prepared and led mission teams to work in children’s camps, which includes child safety training and culture-appropriate orientation for working with local children. They are alumni of one of SF’s France Impressions Team (FIT) trips at a print shop in France.
CHILD SAFETY SPECIALIST TEAM Amy Lynelle, Rachel DeWitt, Lynn Lockwood, Hannah Hamilton, John Sauceda
Rachel Dewitt, an associate member of the SF board, served on two of SF’s Illuminate Quebec (IQ) teams to Camp des Îles where she proved herself a leader in the area of child safety.

Hannah Hamilton, an SF board member, is a fifth-grade schoolteacher with a passion for excellence in working with children. She served on one of SF’s FIT trips.

Dr. Amy Lynelle, Vice President of the SF Board, is a mother and a high school and college French teacher who led two IQ teams to Camp des Îles.

Lynn Lockwood, a longtime member of the SF board, is a mother of three adult sons, has served missionary children in France, and currently works with preschoolers.

John Sauceda, SF’s Director of Operations, represents legal aspects of child safety and is involved in member care.

Children have intrinsic value because they were created by God to bear His image.