Pastors and Leaders Conference, July 31, 2025
GRACE CONFERENCE: Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environment
Safe Churches and Ministries: Equipping Your Ministry for Prevention and Response
This training event has a simple goal: to equip church leaders with vital tools to cultivate a safe environment. Recognizing that leaders are key in preventing abuse and responding biblically, the training will:
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Outline how the Bible speaks to abuse
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Explain common dynamics of abuse in the church
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Give tools for effective and accessible policies
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Prepare leaders for reporting and response to abuse
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Equip leaders to better care for survivors
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Discuss Biblical and practical response to known offenders
Participants will gain practical resources for developing policies and training in this essential area. The training will also address the sensitive matter of safely engaging with known offenders who wish to be part of the church community.
Led by Mike Sloan, Director of Safeguarding at GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), this interactive, PowerPoint-based event will use realistic scenarios and include Q&A. Mike brings 15 years of experience as a former pastor dedicated to reforming abuse policy and culture within churches. He leads GRACE's Safeguarding Initiative, training faith leaders and congregations in abuse education, understanding abuse dynamics in faith settings, and implementing best practices for prevention and response. Mike also consults with faith-based organizations on policy development and advises churches on abuse cases, emphasizing trauma-informed survivor care.
All attendees will receive a training packet filled with practical information and resources for continued learning.
Meet Our Speaker
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Mike Sloan, MDiv
Director of Safeguarding
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Mike Sloan is the Director of Safeguarding at GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment). For the last thirteen years, Mike has trained churches, schools, and other Christian ministries across the United States and abroad in abuse prevention and response best practices. Mike worked with GRACE board member Victor Vieth to develop the GRACE Seminary Curriculum, the first three-credit hour seminary course on child maltreatment, which was piloted at Biblical Seminary in 2017. Mike has served as a local pastor in congregations in Atlanta, Georgia, and Columbus, Ohio. netgrace.org
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Tim and Marty Meyer Korpela are gifted worship leaders, certified marriage facilitators and served for 10 years as leadership staff with Living Waters, a faith- based discipleship program. Their passion is for men and women to know God and to encounter His presence. Together they make their home in the breathtaking state of Montana.
​All proceeds, after covering costs, will go to Gates of Hope Ministries. ​
Meet our Worship Leaders
Tim and Marty Meyer Korpela
​​Our one- day conference is being held on July 31, 2025, at Hope Church in Kalispell. The address is 436 Birch Grove Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901.
For any questions, please contact Jodi Handran at gatesofhope@aol.com or phone/text at 406-405-1824.
Our Conference Schedule is as follows:
8:00 Doors Open
8:30 Worship with Tim and Marty
9:00 Session # 1- God's Call to Protect the Vulnerable
9:50 Break
10:00 Session #2 - Understanding Abuse in the Church
10:50 Break
11:00 Session #3 - How Prevention Works
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Worship with Tim and Marty
1:30 Session #4 -Leading a Culture of Accountability
2:20 Break
2:30 Session #5 - Responding to Known Sex Offenders Part 1
3:20 Break
3:30 Session #6 - Responding to Known Sex Offenders Part 2
4:15 Wrap Up and Worship
4:30 End of Conference
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If you are a church or organization that would like to attend our event, but doing so would cause an undue financial burden, please reach out to Jodi to discuss attending under our scholarship program. We hope to see you there!
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​​​Jodi Handran D.Th. LCCC
President, Gates of Hope Ministries
406-405-1824