How noticing and acting can change a life

Churches are unique in many ways in that people choose to come together, often week by week, yet, certainly initially, not knowing anything about the majority of those who are there.

The church will be made up of people at different stages of life, with varying experiences and influences. Yet, perhaps for just one day a week, they come together as one to worship the Lord Jesus.

In the book of Colossians, it says: "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (3v12). Many Christians will endeavour to lead their lives in this way and seek to care for others with these characteristics.

Unfortunately, though, there may be an individual who feels that within a church context, where welcome and fellowship is at the centre, they can exploit the trusting, loving nature of a child or vulnerable adult for their own gratification.

Would you pass by?

The story of the Good Samaritan is one that may be familiar to some, and the phrase itself is well known in common parlance.

We can be very scathing of the two men who "passed by on the other side" and even dismiss them as being uncaring in their attitude. In terms of safeguarding, though, we have read many times, when tragic cases have emerged, how there were not just two but many who chose to ignore what they saw and heard.

Were they uncaring, or did they choose not to get involved? Did the situation prey on their minds for days and weeks or even years afterwards?

Would the person who, in a safeguarding situation, acted as a Good Samaritan be seen in a positive light? The circumstances may result in a prosecution of some kind or a criminal record for the perpetrator. What must be kept in the forefront of anyone’s mind is the victim, who deserves to be treated in a kind and caring manner, with plenty of reassurance that they have done nothing wrong.

How do you know?

Sadly, for some children, they may not realise that their lived experience is not the norm, and it may require attentive adults to observe carefully what children do and say so that they can be supported effectively.

It may be a throwaway remark that just raises that question of something not seeming right. Even then, it may be many years, when a person is well into adulthood, that they realise that what they were subjected to was not appropriate.

Such victims and survivors need careful support to enable them to navigate their feelings, perhaps with the perpetrators no longer being alive.

All together now

Safeguarding is a collective responsibility which requires each person to respond to any concern of abuse or neglect and, most crucially, report it. It is not just for those in positions of responsibility, because one extra piece of information can join the pieces of a puzzle together to complete the picture.

However challenging the situation may be, a person’s life can be changed for the better by the insight of a "Good Samaritan".