The best way to reduce risk is hiding in plain sight

Ministries, houses of worship and nonprofits can protect themselves, beginning with this step.

By Karlyn Stern
CEO and Operations Manager

Pop quiz: What’s the most important thing you can do to reduce risk in your ministry?

• Buy insurance

• Hire a consultant

• Panic

• Something else

While the first two options may have merit, it’s “something else” that’s of real value in crisis prevention. And what would that be?

It’s simply this: Acknowledging the risk.

Some might say, “Well of course we need to acknowledge the risk. Doesn’t everybody do that?” No. In fact, most faith and nonprofit leaders do not recognize risk in any meaningful way.

Acknowledging risk means more than intellectual assent. The real potential for a crisis should move us to action.

While you can’t address all risks at once, you can identify the top threats to your organization and begin tackling them in order of relevance. A team approach can help you do this faster and more effectively.

At first glance, this effort doesn’t seem as gratifying as a food pantry, choral ensembles or children’s camp. But when you realize preventing risk means protecting all the above, the lightbulb switches on. Let us know how we can partner with you today.

---

Karlyn Stern

Karlyn Stern is CEO and Operations Manager of Ministry Pacific Insurance Services.