Best Overall Option (Recommended for Churches):
MinistrySafe or Protect My Ministry (Website links)
Designed specifically for churches and ministries.
Includes national criminal background checks, sex offender registry checks, and optional Motor Vehicle Records and Reference Checks.
Offers volunteer pricing (often around $10–15 per check).
Compliant with child protection standards.
Integrates with church management software (Planning Center, Church Community Builder, etc.).
Why it’s best: Tailored for churches, easy to use, and legally vetted. Affordable pricing tiers based on volume.
Free or Low-Cost Alternative (With Limitations):
Free National Sex Offender Registry Search
Website: NSOPW.gov
Cost: Free
Use: Quick lookup of known offenders or double check for any new sexual offenses for established church volunteers that have previously passed a background check.
Limitation: This does not replace a full background check.
*If your church uses Brotherhood Mutual for insurance they have their own partner that does background checks so you can check with your agent for pricing and information.
Below is a link to more information to help in screening volunteers, building policy for your church to help protect students, and saftey checks.
How Open Bible East Can Help
Open Bible East offers comprehensive background check services through our Ministry Defender Solutions Account for churches/ministries that do not have their own accounts for background checks. This provides a simple and secure alternative for ministries/churches that require only a limited number of background checks each year. Open Bible East will only bill you for the exact OBE discounted rate amount that we pay to have the background checks performed.
It is simple but also comprehensive. OBE will provide a secure link (when requested) that you will forward to your volunteer. Neither OBE nor the ministry/church will need to safeguard sensitive information like a #SSN.
To request a secure link for forwarding to your potential volunteer, please email backgroundcheck@openbibleeast.org. The background check will take 3 to 5 days to complete, and you will receive a report via email for your records. After the background check is finished, you will be provided with an invoice along with instructions on how to make the payment. In almost all cases, it is recommended to request a Level 2 Volunteer background check, as this includes any federal cases.
* Court access fees may apply. Some local court jurisdictions charge a fee that will be passed on (no uncharge). Tap the link below to access fee schedule for those jurisdictions that asses fees. If you see no fee for your area then no additional charges will be accessed. https://www.safehiringsolutions.com/court-fees