Building Momentum – Keeping Safety on the Agenda All Year

Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes

How to Maintain Focus and Engagement
Disclaimer: The following story is fictional but inspired by real experiences of churches that successfully maintained year-round safety engagement. It is designed to illustrate practical ways to keep safety a consistent priority.

The Mid-Year Slump

By June, Safety Officer Joni noticed something troubling—attendance at safety committee meetings was slipping, inspections were being postponed, and training sessions were harder to schedule. Pastor James admitted safety hadn’t been mentioned in the past two board meetings. It wasn’t that people didn’t care anymore—it was that other ministries and events had taken the spotlight.

Joni knew that if safety was going to remain a strong priority, they had to shift from a “kick-off and coast” mindset to a steady, intentional rhythm that would keep safety visible and valued all year.

Why Momentum Matters

Without consistent attention, safety efforts can lose traction, leaving gaps in preparedness and protection. Building and maintaining momentum ensures that: - Safety stays part of the church’s regular conversation. - Plans and policies remain up-to-date. - The team remains engaged and ready to respond. - The congregation sees safety as part of the ministry culture, not just an occasional event.

Strategies for Year-Round Engagement

1. Keep Safety in the Spotlight

Integrate safety updates into board meetings, ministry leader gatherings, and Sabbath announcements.

Practical Insight: Even a quick “safety tip of the month” can keep awareness high without taking much time.

New Resource: Beginning this quarter, Solutions will feature a short, ready-to-use Safety Spotlight Tip in every issue. These are designed for Safety Officers to share directly with the congregation—whether during a ministry spotlight, at the start of a worship service, or during a community event. The goal is to help increase safety awareness among members and make safety an intentional part of the church’s ongoing program.

2. Schedule Seasonal Events

Anchor your safety activities to seasonal changes—fire safety in the fall, severe weather preparedness in the spring, and missing child awareness in the summer.

Practical Insight: Use the church calendar as a framework so safety activities naturally align with other ministry events.

3. Rotate Responsibilities

Give different committee members the lead on specific projects or presentations throughout the year.

Practical Insight: Rotating leadership not only prevents burnout but also allows each member to contribute their unique strengths.

4. Celebrate Wins Publicly

Recognize safety achievements, such as completing a successful drill or updating a key policy.

Practical Insight: Share stories and photos in the church newsletter or on social media to reinforce the value of safety efforts.

At ARM, we also want to help celebrate your wins. Whether it’s a small change—like labeling exits more clearly—or a big accomplishment—like launching a safety committee—these moments matter more than we often realize. Small, intentional actions can make the biggest difference in protecting your church family. We encourage you to share these success stories with us so we can highlight them on our social media channels and celebrate with you, inspiring other churches to take similar steps.

5. Keep Training Fresh

Offer short, targeted training sessions regularly instead of only holding long, infrequent events.

Practical Insight: Incorporate scenario-based learning to keep sessions engaging and relevant.

From Slump to Steady Progress

By implementing these strategies, Joni and Pastor James transformed their church’s approach to safety. Momentum no longer depended on one big event or a crisis to spark action—it became part of the church’s steady pulse. And by keeping safety on the agenda all year, they built not just a safer church, but a more engaged and prepared congregation.

Next Step: Review your current safety activities and identify one new engagement strategy you can introduce this month—starting with the new Solutions Safety Spotlight Tip—to keep your congregation actively involved in safety awareness all year. And don’t forget to share your success stories with us—because we’re all on the same team, and we want to celebrate those wins right alongside you.