"Deepak Reju writes with conviction and compassion about the sobering reality of child abuse and the challenge of protecting children in this fallen world. Highlighting both the responsibility and privilege of our stewardship, Deepak''s straightforward, thorough, and well-researched insights will instill in any parent or church leader a healthy fear and God-dependent confidence while providing us with practical steps and effective strategies for fulfilling the calling and responsibility we have as God''s stewards. We earnestly encourage church leaders to embrace Deepak''s concern and apply his counsel for the protection and the joy of the next generation." Pastor David and Sally Michael, Founders, Children Desiring God "If I could mandate that at least one leader from every church had to read a single book, I don''t think there are too many I would choose ahead of On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church . Too many times the purpose and witness of the church has been tarnished by her failure to offer safety and protection to children. This book offers assistance where so many churches have failed." Tim Challies, Pastor, author, and blogger at Challies.com "Child sexual abuse in the church is a scandal, and yet many of us in church are woefully ill-equipped to identify danger signs, understand our legal responsibilities, or respond in an appropriate pastoral manner to the victims.
In this timely book, Deepak Reju addresses all of these areas of concern, offering helpful advice to pastors, elders, and Christians in general on what the reality of this evil requires of them in terms of organization, wisdom, and action. Whether your church is just starting to formulate a child protection policy or seeking to protect the children in its care more effectively, this book will be a very useful resource in addressing the challenges in keeping children safe and giving comfort and care to the victims of abuse." Carl R. Trueman, Pastor, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Ambler, PA; Paul Woolley Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia "Deepak has given the church a fine gift. He has written a very practical plan for churches so we can better love and protect our children and teens. It won''t overburden a church with endless regulations, but it will give church leadership what they must know, and it will lay out what church leadership must teach its members and ministry staff. This book will, guaranteed, make you and your church wiser." Ed Welch, Author and CCEF Faculty "Everyone agrees that we should be on guard to protect children in our churches.
What''s been lacking is a clear and concise guide that shows church leaders how. In On Guard , Deepak Reju has now provided us with a theologically grounded and deeply practical guide precisely for this purpose." Timothy Paul Jones, PhD, C. Edwin Gheens Professor of Christian Family Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary "On Guard is a road map that will help your church, its leaders, staff, and congregation create a safer environment for families. It does not pull any punches delivering case studies, facts, and figures that will shock many. By deconstructing the stereotypical image of the sexual predator, it forces the reader to reflect on the reality that predators very often hide in plain sight, behind the facade of the all-American father, youth pastor, preacher, or highly respected member of the congregation. If your church hasn''t got a child protection policy or you want to test the one you have, this provides all the references and checklists you will need. Whether inside or outside the church, this is a must read for all child protection professionals.
" Jim Gamble, QPM, CEO INEQE Safe & Secure; former CEO of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre; founding Chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce on Child Protection; lead on Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Child Abuse Investigation until 2011 "How should a church respond to a convicted sex offender who, after serving his sentence, wants to join your church? How do we affirm the gospel of grace without making naïve and tragic mistakes? How can predators be identified and what "best practices" do we need to guard against abuse within the church, even by leaders? Sad to say, we really need this book." Michael Horton, Professor of Theology, Westminster Seminary California; cohost of the White Horse Inn "The church has been woefully "behind the curve" when it comes to addressing sexual abuse. Fortunately, On Guard by Deepak Reju brings a much-needed resource to church leadership. Reju is a shepherd who clearly loves the vulnerable sheep. Beyond statistics and stories, Reju speaks into the heart of contemporary church life with insight that faces evil and also brings practical help. I recommend every new pastor or intern read this book. On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church is a mouthful we''re going to have to digest to move toward the front of the curve." Andrew J.
Schmutzer, PhD, Professor of Biblical Studies, Moody Bible Institute; author/editor of The Long Journey Home: Understanding and Ministering to the Sexually Abused "On Guard is a much-needed bomb and balm. It detonates many dangerous assumptions of the evangelical church regarding child abuse, and it points us toward true healing and wise safety measures. This is a must-read for every pastor and ministry leader and a gift of love to every child. I wish this book had been published decades ago!" Peter Hubbard, Teaching Pastor, North Hills Community Church, Taylors, SC; author of Love into Light "Thanks to On Guard , many children will be protected from the horrors of child abuse. In addition to providing a more comprehensive approach toward child abuse, he offers helpful strategies to prevent and respond to abuse at church. All pastors, children ministry leaders, church staff, and parents need Deepak''s book." Justin S. Holcomb, Episcopal priest; seminary professor; coauthor of Rid of My Disgrace and God Made All of Me "I can''t recommend Deepak''s book highly enough.
Deepak provides a thorough education on child protection for your childcare workers, practical help in implementing a child protection policy at your church, and sets an appropriately tough standard that will scare the daylights out of any predators looking to target your children. Get a case of these books to give to your children''s ministry workers as a training tool to equip them in their service and care of your children." Marty Machowski, Children''s Pastor; author of the Gospel Story Bible and curriculum, Long Story Short , and Old Story New "This book is a must-read for every church and pastor. The church has a moral responsibility to be fully equipped in the protection of children under its care and how to respond in a God-honoring way when our best efforts at prevention fail. We have not lived up to this standard, but Deepak has served the church well by writing this needed resource. It is now our responsibility to study it, examine our current practices at each church, and make necessary changes. Make sure every church and pastor you know gets a copy." Brad Hambrick, Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church, Durham, NC "I know of no single book that captures well the full picture and essential need to protect children in the modern church and how to accomplish it wisely .
until now. I am deeply grateful that Deepak Reju wrote this book. His wise pastor''s heart and years of credible experience he brings to this area of ministry permeates from every page. On Guard is thoroughly biblical and immensely practical. Every pastor, church leader, and church member working with children in the local church must read this book. This is one of the most important books for the local church I have read in many years!" Brian Croft, Senior Pastor, Auburndale Baptist Church; founder, Practical Shepherding; author " On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church needs to be in the hands of every pastor and ministry leader in every church. This candid, compassionate, and comprehensive manual provides exactly what the church desperately needs to protect children and to protect the reputation of Christ and the bride of Christ. Replete with wise biblical principles and practical real-life policies and procedures, On Guard equips the church to take the lead in proactively protecting the most precious and vulnerable among us.
" Bob Kellemen, PhD, Executive Director, Biblical Counseling Coalition; author of Gospel-Centered Counseling "Rev. Reju boldly articulates that the church does not, in fact will not, write a child safety plan if it does not understand the call of scripture as the basis for such a plan. From chapter to chapter, the author extracts from numerous Scripture verses and stories the sound theological foundation for a child safety plan. He emphasizes that every movement toward the development of a child safety plan must embrace our duty to love the church and the little ones in its care, but also to abhor the moral failure of doing nothing to protect little ones from harm or restricting potential abusers from unfettered access to do harm." Beth A. Swagman, MSW, ACSW, JD, Director of Safe Place Consulting, PLC, Grand Rapids, MI; author of Preventing Child Abuse: Creating a Safe Place "Sexual predators target children in churches. This sobering truth ought to lead us to pray--and prepare. In his timely book, Deepak Reju helps pastors and pa.