Blog:FOREST LAKE TALKS

Good news! As of this writing, we have 83 registrants for our first FLPC Family Night (September 13)! Family Night includes program options for all ages after dinner, and we are grateful for the many volunteers who have said yes to planning, teaching, and leading on Sunday nights.

While we continue to adjust, tweak, and develop educational programming at FLPC, we will not change our longstanding practice of doing everything we can to promote and maintain a safe and nurturing environment. Long before children remember a sermon, they learn something about God by watching the adults around them. Are they kind, patient, and dependable? Do they help our children feel safe?

Because we take protecting our youngest disciples seriously, each fall we update the FLPC family on our safety policies and procedures. The Education Ministry, in collaboration with staff and adult volunteers, has done the following in 2026:

• Reviewed and revised the FLPC Child Protection Policy, including strengthening the annual volunteer training requirement.
• Produced a FLPC safety video that discusses the FLPC Child Protection Policy and emergency procedures.
• Built a new online volunteer application. This helps expedite the background check process for both volunteers and staff.
• With a big assist from Liza Hunter, built a new webpage that includes our Child Protection Policy and the safety video.
• Offered two volunteer training sessions (August 30 and September 6) to go over the Child Protection Policy and emergency procedures.
• Built an online Standards of Behavior form that each preschool, elementary, and FLY volunteer must sign before working with our youngest disciples.

Our Child Protection Policy begins with Jesus’ words: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” When we welcome our youngest disciples to FLPC activities, we do much more than open a classroom door or organize a game. We show them, through our actions, that they are loved, valued, and safe. Additionally, by creating healthy boundaries, we protect our volunteers by making expectations clear and preventing situations that may potentially be unsafe or misunderstood.

Thank you for helping us do all we can to continue to make FLPC a safe, welcoming, and warm environment.