GFC SMALL GROUPS RESOURCE PAGE
CHILDCARE OPTIONS IN SMALL GROUP
1. No Children Attend
Each member of the group organizes their own, individual babysitting for their child(ren) outside of small group so that no children are present.
2. Children Stay With The Group
Children are either engaged with the group itself, or are participating in another activity with the other children while in constant view of the adults.
3. Formal Childcare Is Provided
Children are present at the small group and there is paid, organized childcare that follows the formal safety measures listed below:
Individual(s) providing childcare must be over 18 years of age Individual(s) providing childcare must pass a background check Individual(s) providing childcare must complete child & infant CPR training If more than 10 children are in attendance, an additional childcare worker is needed **note: please use wisdom on this. For example, if there are six children under the age of four being watched by a single childcare worker, please consider getting another individual to help given the age of the children
Texas is a mandatory reporting state, which means the Texas law requires any person who suspects
abuse or negligence of a child to be reported immediately. Please utilize the hotlines below for reporting.
Bexar County Non-Emergency Sheriff’s Office
| 870-425-7000 |
If there is no immediate threat but you feel that a child could be in danger when going home, call this number and stall until an officer arrives. Please note that legally, a child cannot be kept from their parental guardian(s).
Abuse Hotline
| 1-800-252-5400 |
This is the Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) Texas Abuse Hotline. In the case of suspected abuse, call this number and inform your Small Group and/or House Leader.
Suicide Prevention Hotline
| 988 |
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If someone in your small group indicates that they may be at risk of suicide or self-harm, call this number for additional resources available in our area.
We recognize that there may be some situations in which you will feel very inadequate to minister. In cases of sexual abuse, incest, suicidal ideation, same sex attraction, pedophilia, gender dysphoria, or even witchcraft, please contact one of GFC's staff members as soon as possible. The staff will then ensure that proper legal, biblical, and logical steps are taken to help those dealing with these particular situations.
As you begin to dive into people's lives and minister in areas of sin, marital issues, substance abuse, fear and anxiety, depression, and pornography, the Lord is going to stretch your experiential capacity for providing wisdom to those who are struggling.
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"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
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