And all can get you into trouble. Some are a danger to kids, others are a danger to property. What was considered humorous in youth ministry 20 years ago can get you into a serious predicament today. But it's difficult to say no to students who're begging to run around the car in the middle of an intersection. While good volunteers will provide invaluable services to youth ministries, we must choose them wisely.
Poor choices can destroy everything.
A background check. Include a place on the form where a reference can indicate if he or she wishes to talk with you about the applicant. You or a trusted team member should interview each applicant. If an applicant says he has been convicted of a criminal offense, the reasonable action is to find out the details of that situation. If he says he hasn't and there is no contradicting evidence to raise suspicion, the process should not go any further.