Better Safe than Sued: Keeping Your Students and Ministry Alive

by Jack Crabtree

Most youth workers will admit that they don’t spend a lot of time thinking about safety in their youth ministry. Sure, they shout, “Seat belts!” when the crew loads into the van, or they use the buddy system when at theme parks. But beyond that, they’re mostly concerned with introducing students to Jesus. Nothing’s wrong with looking after their spiritual well-being, but overlooking their safety can lead to pain and problems for you, your students, your church, or your community. The reality is, whether it’s a game of dodgeball in the church gym, or a rock climbing trip during a summer retreat, you have precious cargo in your care, and it’s your responsibility to make sure they return home safely and in one piece. Better Safe Than Sued is an essential guidebook for anyone in youth ministry—paid or volunteer, veteran or rookie. Along with questions to get you thinking about your own ministry context after each chapter, inside you’ll discover how you can make your ministry a safe place for students and leaders as you read • Safety while riding in buses, vans, and cars • Camps, retreats, and conferences • Selecting staff • Avoiding sexual misconduct • Establishing a No-Bully Zone • How to handle injuries, and much more Make sure your ministry is safe and that you’re protected so you never have to be the one saying, “I never took safety seriously until …”

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Katie Hathaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone beginning in or inheriting a student ministry. Crabtree has ample amounts of practical lists and safety regulations throughout the book. He lays out worse-case scenarios to give the reader an idea of how to or not to handle important moments in student ministry. I would highly recommend implementing Crabtree's checklists and safety precautions in every area of the church, not just student ministry.

[M.J.Swan]

This is a really helpful resource. It brings up a lot of things people don’t otherwise think about and so I would definitely recommend it.

[Chadwick Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little outdated, but a good book for reminding Youth Pastors & leaders that safety is one of the most crucial aspects of Youth Ministry

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crabtree does a good job at calling youth ministers to pay attention to safety in the activities they do with kids. At the same time, he didn't suggest not doing activities that are high energy and engaging . . . just calls us to be smart in the way we do them. The chapter in which he describes a teenage girl getting killed on one of his youth group activities ripped my heart out. Important book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info - will loan to Jerred