PENNSYLVANIA
Lancaster Online
By JOAN KERN
Correspondent
When the Rev. Deb Helt’s granddaughter was born 26 months ago, the pastor vowed that little Emma would be safe — and know about her body.
So two years ago she helped lead the yearlong Safe Church Project: Protection of Children and Youth from Sexual Abuse at Hosanna! A Fellowship of Christians, in Lititz, where she serves as pastor of congregational life. Hosanna was among nine congregations in that first Safe Church Project.
Last year Helt shadowed Linda Crockett, director of education and consultation at the Samaritan Counseling Center, who developed and designed the project, as Crockett led nine more congregations and the Warwick Released Time Program through the project. In those two years, Safe Church reached 3,000 children and 3,800 adults.
Now this year, Helt will take over for Crockett locally while Crockett takes the project on the road to three locations across the country.
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