Emphasize Safety From the Very Beginning of Your Men’s Team Ministry

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All ministry involves liability. While you should not let liability issues stop you from doing biblical ministry, you can mitigate liability by stressing safety from the first day of your men’s team ministry. ( See also my post, “How to Deal with Issues of Liability with Your Men’s Team Ministry.”

Here are four ways to stress safety, protect your participants, and reduce your exposure.

Do your due diligence

Make sure your church leadership understands the precise nature of its men’s team ministry. I highly recommend that the church leadership discuss the ministry with its insurance agent. (I am not qualified to provide legal advice or legal forms. If you need either, please consult with a lawyer.)

Require background checks for all team members

Your teams will be going into the homes of vulnerable people. It is the church’s responsibility to review the backgrounds of all participants.

Require a policy that no team member goes to a care receiver’s home alone

This policy protects care receivers from abuse and also care givers from false accusations.

Teach basic safety measures

(The following is from my book, Developing a Men’s Team Ministry to Widows, Widowers and Single Parents.)

• Electrical – Other than extremely minor repairs, use an electrician. Station someone at the breaker box when turning off circuit breakers – or better yet, lock and red tag them. Make sure all cords for power tools are grounded. Never operate power tools around water or on wet grass.
• Overhead lines – make a mental note of where overhead lines are when carrying tall objects.
• Ladders and heights – always have someone hold your ladder. Exercise extreme caution on roofs and use a tether.
• Gas – use a plumber at all times.
• Digging – call in advance for placement of gas, electrical and other under ground utilities.
• Cars on jacks and ramps – have someone double check safety. Use chock blocks, jack stands and the emergency brake.
• Operating hazardous equipment – use safety devices, such as goggles, ear plugs, etc., when appropriate. The person who owns or rented the equipment should operate it.
• Lift with your back straight. Ask for help with heavy objects.

I often mention that over the past twenty years, I have heard of no instances of injury, abuse or acquired liability. It is an indication of the Lord’s hand of protection on this ministry. It is also an indication of the wisdom of these practices.

This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.

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Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom

and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.

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