Since its beginning, Adventist Risk Management, Inc. (ARM) has been committed to providing quality insurance products and accessible education resources to help Seventh-day Adventist organizations minimize risk. Our safety resources emphasize prevention and preparedness, providing helpful materials for all aspects of ministry.
ARM continues to develop new methods of delivering these educational resources to clients. The latest innovation is the Risk Training Center (RTC), an online learning platform that offers self-paced courses on safety and risk management for Adventist ministries. Church employees and volunteers can enroll in these courses free of charge and take the courses on their own schedule.It is our hope that with RTC, organizations may better manage the challenges that divert precious resources from where they are most needed. The RTC currently offers two courses:
- Risk Management for Pastors
- Risk Management for Safety Officers
These courses allow users to test their knowledge and access critical information unique to their roles. With multiple modules organized by topic, the courses present definitive introductions in engaging ways. Through matching exercises and questions, they help test and gauge users’ knowledge. With the successful completion of the course, users are awarded a certificate to show their mastery of the information.
ARM Vice President for Client Care David Fournier explains the philosophy behind launching an online learning center: “While Adventist Risk Management continues to provide in-person and virtual seminars, articles, videos, and webinars, the opportunity provided by online learning allows for an ‘always-available’ platform that can reach across many barriers.”
Fournier adds that online learning “allows us to share risk management concepts in a rich experience that combines multiple learning formats, including video, reading, and interactive elements, to meet different learning styles.”
The RTC content emphasizes actionable, industry-leading safety education. It approaches training from the perspective of prevention strategies, delivering foundational safety measures in a comprehensive way. Each course is also uniquely tailored for each particular ministry, empowering pastors, safety officers, and volunteers to serve in safer, more effective ways. The Risk Management for Pastors will cover church structure, crisis communication, and the topic of liability in our church ministries. Our safety officer course will help officers to better prepare for emergencies, protect children, and secure their buildings.
The center’s user-friendly and comprehensive approach is grabbing the attention of conference officials. Jeffrey Maxwell of the Northern California Conference says, “As a risk management director, I can say this is a very valuable resource for pastors, safety officers, and anyone else in our membership who is concerned about church safety.”
Simona Cardwell, former director of risk management at Oregon Conference, emphasizes the transformative potential of the center: “I’m very excited about this new platform. With the pastor and safety officer having a better understanding of risk management, I’m hopeful it will make a difference in claims and general safety.”
ARM is also excited to announce the development of two new courses scheduled to launch this fall: Risk Management Basics for Educators and Risk Management for Pathfinder Leaders. These courses will address the unique context and needs of each ministry. For example, our educators’ course will include information about classroom safety and traveling with youth. The course for Pathfinder leaders will emphasize safety for outdoor activities and cybersecurity in the club context.
Church employees and volunteers, such as pastors, youth pastors, and safety officers, can register for the courses on our website. They may choose between English and Spanish versions, register with a username and password, and enroll in the course of their choosing.
We look forward to seeing how the center helps you and your ministry propel energy and resources where they are most needed: mission.
Image Credits: Tierney-stock.adobe.com
