08/03/2026
Over the past week, Jesus Weekend brought together more than 25 churches, 30+ organizations, hundreds of volunteers, and thousands of community members for a weekend focused on serving, loving, and blessing the Lancaster community.
We have recently received a question from a community member regarding volunteer participation and the safety measures that were in place during the event. Because the safety of children, families, and every person who attended Jesus Weekend is a responsibility we take seriously, we want to provide clarity and transparency.
Jesus Weekend was designed as a free public community event, similar to other community gatherings where members of the public are welcome to attend. Parents, guardians, and accompanying adults maintained responsibility for their children throughout the event, and children were never placed in the care or supervision of Jesus Weekend volunteers.
During outreach projects that took place throughout the city, approximately 100 youth participated in serving our community. These students were accompanied and supervised by volunteer leaders who had completed background checks and were cleared prior to serving.
At the same time, we took intentional steps to create a safe environment. All volunteers serving in roles involving children, youth, or family activities were required to complete appropriate screening and were verified prior to serving. Volunteers serving in these areas were also checked against the s*x offender registry. Additionally, uniformed members of the Lancaster Police Department and additional private security personnel were present throughout the event.
As part of our outreach efforts, volunteers also served offsite through homeless outreach initiatives in partnership with community organizations. Those serving in these efforts served as part of volunteer teams and were separate from children’s, youth, and family activities.
We recognize that anytime a community gathers, especially an event involving children and families, people will have questions. We appreciate those who care enough to ask them. Our commitment is to serve our community with both compassion and wisdom — extending dignity to people while also maintaining appropriate safeguards and accountability.
We also want to celebrate what God accomplished through Jesus Weekend. More than 25 churches and over 30 organizations came together with a shared vision to serve our city. Volunteers provided practical help, prayed with community members, connected people with resources, served those experiencing homelessness, and created opportunities for people to encounter the love of Jesus.
We are incredibly thankful for every volunteer, every partner organization, and every person who participated. Our prayer is that the unity and momentum created through Jesus Weekend will continue to grow and that our community will continue to be impacted in even greater ways.
