SBC President Willy Rice to Host Abuse Prevention Training in Florida

Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Willy Rice has announced that Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, will host a "Safeguarding the Next Generation" training event on January 19, 2027. The event is organized in partnership with the Tampa Bay Baptist Association, the Suncoast Baptist Association, and the SBC Executive Committee’s Sexual Abuse Prevention & Response team.

This training is part of the broader "Fortify Initiative," which aims to equip congregations with improved youth protection protocols and connect churches with local resources. Jeff Dalrymple, director of the SBC’s abuse prevention department, is scheduled to speak at the event. Rice emphasized that the initiative is a necessary step in the denomination's ongoing efforts to address sexual abuse, noting that over 5,200 SBC churches have already participated in similar training since 2021.

In his statement, Rice urged all Southern Baptist churches to maintain vigilance, implement rigorous safety protocols, and cooperate fully with law enforcement when abuse allegations arise. The event is intended to serve as a model for collaborative efforts across the convention to protect vulnerable individuals within church ministries.