Training
Training
Why We Train: A Theological Conviction
Safeguarding is not an appendix to the church’s mission; it is an essential expression of it. Our training is built on a framework of core biblical convictions about God, humanity, and the church.
Why We Train: A Theological Conviction
Safeguarding is not an appendix to the church’s mission; it is an essential expression of it. Our training is built on a framework of core biblical convictions about God, humanity, and the church.
03
The Church: A Discerning and True Refuge
Every church longs to be a place of unconditional love, welcome, and grace. This is a beautiful and biblical desire. However, true Christian compassion requires a realistic understanding of the human condition. A love that is naive or undiscerning can, with the best of intentions, create an environment where harmful behaviour is allowed to fester.
A community that offers grace without accountability can unintentionally become a hiding place for sin. A true refuge, in contrast, is safe for everyone because its culture of accountability is designed to bring any harmful behaviour into the light. It is a place where secrecy and exploitation cannot thrive. This is how we protect the vulnerable and deter those who would seek to harm them. It is a place where hurting people can find healing because truth is spoken, and where all are held to the same standard of Christ-like conduct. True pastoral care, therefore, is not passive acceptance; it is the active, wise, and courageous work of creating a community that is genuinely safe for all.
02
A Sober Understanding of Sin and Brokenness
We approach this work with a clear-eyed and humble view of sin. We recognise the reality of evil in the world, but more importantly, we are honest about the brokenness that resides within the human heart—our own included. This means no individual, leader, or institution is automatically exempt from the risk of causing harm.
A healthy safeguarding culture, then, is not driven by worldly cynicism or fear, but by biblical discernment. True faith is not a blind trust in human systems; it is an active trust in God that expresses itself through wise and protective action. We implement clear policies and procedures not because we lack faith in people, but because our faith compels us to be responsible shepherds of the community God has entrusted to us.
01
Honouring God's Design in Every Person
Our starting point is the profound truth that every human being is God’s creation, intentionally and intimately formed by Him. Scripture speaks of God knitting us together, making each person a unique and precious bearer of His image—the Imago Dei. Jesus himself modeled this profound respect, consistently honouring the dignity of those overlooked by society—children, women, the sick, and the outcast.
Abuse, therefore, is far more than a harmful action; it is a violation of God's creative design. It treats a person as an object to be used rather than an image-bearer to be honoured. Our commitment to safeguarding flows from this: we are called to be faithful stewards of the people God loves, fulfilling the original mandate to care for His creation with integrity and respect.
Living as the Body
The church is not a building or a social club. It is a living body, a family. Our witness to a watching world and our life together as believers is meant to be a picture of God’s Kingdom—a community that is both wonderfully welcoming and fiercely protective. Our culture, therefore, is one where love is expressed through clear boundaries, and grace is strengthened by real accountability. It is a spiritual home that is deeply compassionate, but never naive.
This is what safeguarding is. It is not a set of external rules, but the wise and faithful stewardship of our community's health so that our true mission can prosper. It is the active, shared work of building a culture where everyone feels safe, seen, and valued. It is the work of all of us—pastors, leaders, and members—to ensure our church is a true refuge. This is how we share the heart of God for His people, protect the vulnerable, and create a healthy body where Christ can be most fully honoured.
Our Training Approach
In‑Person and Online Training
The Christian Safeguarding Centre offers training, both in‑person and online, to equip your church to turn these convictions into practice. Each course is carefully designed to address the unique challenges within faith‑based contexts.
Training as a Shared Responsibility
We believe that developing a healthy safeguarding culture is not just the responsibility of a few professionals, pastors, or designated leads. It is the shared effort of everyone involved in ministry. That is why we encourage churches and organisations to attend training together, so that teams can develop a unified culture built on trust, awareness, and collective responsibility.
Bespoke Training for Larger Organisations
For larger churches or organisations with more than ten ministry leaders or volunteers, we recommend arranging a bespoke training session specifically designed for your context. Our team will work with you to ensure the content is relevant, engaging, and applicable to your setting.
Regular Training for Smaller Churches
For smaller churches and organisations, we offer a series of regular training events throughout the year, which can be booked individually. These sessions provide an excellent opportunity to learn alongside others, share experiences, and strengthen our collective safeguarding practice.
Our Partnership Model
Our training is a key part of how we partner with member churches and organisations. Membership is free and represents a shared commitment: a pledge to actively build a safe environment by implementing and maintaining effective safeguarding measures (such as induction and annual refresher training for all staff and volunteers, safer recruitment practices, clear policies and procedures, etc.).
In return, we provide free training, up-to-date information and resources, and connect you with a growing network of churches and Christian organisations equally committed to safeguarding. We believe that through this partnership of mutual support and accountability, we can together build a stronger, safer church culture in Hong Kong.
Training
Our Training Courses
The Christian Safeguarding Centre offers training, both in-person and online, to equip your church and organisation to turn these convictions into practice. Each course is carefully designed to address the unique challenges within faith-based contexts:
Safeguarding is not an appendix to the church’s mission; it is an essential expression of it. Our training is built on a framework of core biblical convictions about God, humanity, and the church.
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Safe Church for Everyone
We will explore:
Understanding Vulnerability: Defining vulnerability in a broader, biblical sense. This section helps us recognise that we all have times of vulnerability (situational, spiritual, emotional) and that some members of our community are more consistently at risk of harm.
Wisdom About Relational Risk: A dangerous myth is that harm only comes from strangers. A truly safe community humbly recognises that no one is exempt from sin, and that risks can also arise from within our own community. This section builds our wise discernment.
Identifying Risky Situations & Structures: Learning to see our church life with fresh eyes—identifying physical spaces, programmes, or unexamined habits (e.g., leadership dynamics, one-on-one meetings) that might, even unintentionally, create opportunities for harm.
Living Together in God's Household: A practical look at what healthy personal, emotional, and spiritual boundaries look like in a loving community setting.
Our Shared Responsibility: Understanding why speaking up about concerns, no matter how small they seem, is a vital act of care for the whole body. This clarifies who to talk to (e.g., your safeguarding coordinator) and how to raise a concern safely.
You will leave this course with the confidence and clarity to be an active partner in making your church a true refuge, where everyone is safe, valued, and able to flourish.
Who is this for?
This is a foundational, all-church course. It is essential for all members, highly recommended for new members, and foundational for all volunteers, regardless of their role (e.g., welcome team, music ministry, small group hosts, etc.).
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Safeguarding Essentials for Children and Youth Leaders
This is more than a compliance talk. It is foundational training in what it means to engage in faithful service. We will equip you and your team with:
Understanding Our Calling: Understanding why safeguarding (the proactive work of creating a safe and nurturing culture) is a core part of our mission.
Humble Self-Reflection: Examining our own positions of power, potential blind spots, and the vital role of personal accountability in ministry.
Practical Prevention: How to build a ministry culture that is both welcoming and wise, including safe recruitment practices and clear boundaries.
Discerning Care: Learning to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect.
A Wise Response: Knowing the correct child protection steps to take when a child or young person discloses abuse or harm.
Legal Responsibility: A clear explanation of your legal responsibilities in Hong Kong, including the Mandatory Reporting Ordinance.
You will leave this course with the practical guidance needed to create a ministry environment where children are truly safe, deeply valued, and free to flourish in their faith.
Who is this for?
This is a foundational course essential for all staff and volunteers working directly with children or young people (e.g., Sunday School teachers, youth group leaders, creche workers, camp volunteers). It is also highly recommended for ministry heads overseeing these areas.
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Safeguarding Essentials for adults at risk of harm
We will equip you and your team with:
A Vision of Honour: Understanding our biblical call to uphold the dignity of every adult, respecting their will and God-given agency.
Humble Self-Reflection: Examining how we interact with and perceive adults who may be at risk, ensuring we are empowering, not controlling.
Discerning Care: Learning to recognise the signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation (including domestic, financial, emotional, and physical).
A Respectful Response: Knowing how to respond safely and appropriately, always respecting the adult's capacity and consent as the first priority.
Building a True Community: Practical steps for creating a church culture that combats isolation and fosters genuine, interdependent relationships.
You will leave this course with the practical guidance needed to work in ways that promote both dignity and independence, building a church where every single member is valued and safe.
Who is this for?
This is a foundational course essential for anyone involved in pastoral care, visitation, small group leadership, or ministry with seniors or adults with specific needs. It is also relevant for church leadership.
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Safeguarding for Coordinators and Leads
This training equips you and your team for the complex, practical realities of leadership:
The Call to Faithful Stewardship: A biblical framework for leadership that embraces the responsibility to administer justice, pursue truth, and show compassion.
Humble Leadership: Navigating authority and confidentiality wisely, and understanding personal accountability in this role.
Receiving a Concern: Developing the skills to receive a concern or disclosure with sensitivity and procedural accuracy, acting in a manner that conveys belief and respects the person reporting.
Understanding the Situation: Learning the principles of gathering information fairly and carefully to understand the nature of the concern and determine appropriate next steps, including maintaining appropriate records.
Pastoral Care in Crisis: How to help your church leadership provide effective pastoral support to everyone impacted by a safeguarding concern.
Building a Resilient Culture: How to develop, implement, and review your policies, and how to support your ministry teams so they are confident and cared for in their roles.
Working with Authorities: Understanding how and when to work constructively with statutory agencies, including your legal responsibilities in Hong Kong.
You will leave this course with the wisdom and confidence to handle complex situations, maintain clear records, and lead your church with the Christ-like integrity that makes it a true refuge.
Who is this for?
This is an advanced course specifically designed for designated Safeguarding Coordinators/Leads, members of safeguarding response teams, senior pastoral staff, and elders/church board members responsible for oversight. Completion of essential safeguarding training is a prerequisite.
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Community Care After Harm: Supporting Those Who Experienced Abuse
This training focuses on the sensitive, patient work required to walk alongside individuals navigating the aftermath of abuse:
Understanding Trauma: Learning about the profound and lasting impact of trauma on a person's body, mind, soul, and faith journey.
The Ministry of Listening Well: Developing the skills to listen patiently, validate experiences without judgment, and offer support in a way that empowers, respects, and avoids causing further harm.
Walking the Long Road of Healing: Understanding the complex journey individuals face and the church's role in providing patient, consistent, and practical support over time.
Pursuing Justice and Restoration: Exploring how the church can appropriately support those harmed in seeking accountability and repair where appropriate, guided by biblical principles of justice and compassion.
Collaborating for Holistic Care: Recognizing when and how to partner actively with professional support systems (like therapists, social services, or legal aid) to best care for those who are hurt, rather than simply handing cases over.
This session will equip anyone involved in pastoral care, leadership, or community support. You will learn to respond with the sensitivity and wisdom needed to help those who have experienced abuse find the church to be a true reflection of Christ's healing love, not a place of judgment or silence.
Who is this for?
This course is vital for pastoral staff, elders, deacons, small group leaders, pastoral care team members, and anyone in a designated support role within the church. It is also beneficial for any church member wanting to better understand how to care for those affected by harm or abuse.
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Understanding Spiritual Abuse
We will equip you and your team with:
A Clear Definition: Understanding what spiritual abuse is (and is not), focusing on the misuse of spiritual authority for control.
Recognising the Patterns: Identifying common tactics like manipulation, intimidation, misuse of scripture, enforced isolation, and the crushing of dissent.
Exploring the Impact: Understanding the specific and layered spiritual, emotional, and psychological harm caused by spiritual abuse.
Biblical Authority vs. Abusive Control: Examining the biblical model of servant leadership—and the high standards God sets for leaders—contrasting it sharply with patterns of domination and control.
Creating Safe Channels: Practical steps for establishing trustworthy ways for concerns to be raised and addressed within the church.
Responding with Wisdom: Guidance on how to respond appropriately and compassionately when concerns about spiritual abuse arise.
This training aims to foster discerning, healthy leadership that reflects Christ's servant heart, ensuring our churches are places where people are built up in their faith, not broken down by abusive power.
Who is this for?
This course is essential for all church leaders (pastoral staff, elders, board members), small group leaders, ministry heads, and strongly recommended for all church members seeking to foster a healthy, accountable, and Christ-like community culture.