We’re going back to basics on Protect My Ministry this week. Our goal today is explaining some of the basic laws of background checks and what employees need to know about how ministries and their chosen screening agencies should be protecting their credit information. Who We Are By law, a company is a Consumer Reporting
Expect the Unexpected – Screen Clergy to Keep Your Congregation Safe
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15 You may have heard this saying, or something like it, before. The verse from Matthew is a prolific teaching tool among Bible study groups, but it’s also a recognizable fable from Aesop. The lesson, in
Improve the Safety of Your Vacation Bible School
Ministries across the country are becoming increasingly concerned with protecting the children they serve. Pennsylvania has really lead the charge because of a new state law overhauling its child protection policies. The new law expands the requirements for, and scope of, background checks for people who work or volunteer with children. The law demands that
Can An Employer Require Candidates to Pay for Their Own Background Check?
When budgets get tight, employers often have to do a lot of soul-searching to find out where to best spend their dollars. One of the most expensive aspects of running any business, including ministries, vacation bible schools, and other faith-based organizations, is hiring new people. From generating and placing job openings to gathering applications and
The Top Three Things Customers Desire From a Screening Firm (And Why Protect My Ministry Aces at All of Them)
We live in a fast-paced society. From 24-hour grocery markets to flash online sales, we want things available to us anytime, anywhere, anyhow. That’s tough stuff for businesses. How do you consistently provide a top notch product or best-in-class service when you’re stretched to your limits in terms of production costs, manpower, and the litany
Do Your Volunteers (and employees) Wonder Why They’re Being Screened? Here’s What to Tell Them.
National Volunteer Week is just around the corner and that means many people will be seeking useful ways to volunteer their time and help their communities. This year, National Volunteer Week runs April 12 – 18. Any group – like a non-profit agency or faith-based organization – who could benefit from a few more helping
Child Safety Training More Important Than Ever Thanks to New Laws
It’s always a step in the right direction when states move to protect our innocent children from abusive predators. Even though the details might be overwhelming or confusing at the start, it’s imperative that organizations, including all faith-based groups, implement them as soon as possible. Pennsylvania took such action in 2014 when its state legislature
Three Reasons Why Every Church School Should Screen its Staff and Volunteers
Protect My Ministry takes seriously the need to vet anyone – ANYONE – who is hired by, or volunteers for, a faith-based organization. In particular, we feel strongly that employees and volunteers within schools who are sponsored by, or run on the campus of, a religious organization must maintain high standards of conducting thorough and
Tired of Sloppy Handwriting? Five Benefits to a Paperless Hiring and Screening Platform.
The hiring process can be tedious. Generate an eye-catching job description. Sift through dozens, or hundreds, of applications. Decipher WHAT ON EARTH is written on said applications. Enter candidates’ information into data collection system. Find storage for applications, resumes and cover letters (there’s room in a back closet somewhere, right?). And that’s all before interviews
Student Ministry Makes Smart Move – Background Checks for Volunteers
There is a beautiful resurgence happening on a longtime religious property in Northwest Georgia. The Polk Haralson Christian Life Center in the Antioch Community, locally known as Camp Antioch, is now blossoming with visitors and wildlife after a major facilities upgrade project and a wildlife habitat certification from the The National Wildlife Federation. More than