Recent child abductions across the nation prompted a Hermitage church congregation to take action.

A free "Escape School" is being offered this month by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church to teach children ages 5 to 15 how to avoid abduction and to enlighten adults about what to do in case the unthinkable happens.

"It's a timely thing, because of the tremendous challenges the children face in this day and age. It has been in the news of late," said the Rev. Nancie R. Reeves, church pastor. "And we're not isolated. We could have those same things happen to our children here."

Dignity Memorial, which teaches the workshop, says about 125,000 attempted child abductions happen each year and more than 3,000 children will be abducted this year by being lured or dragged into a vehicle.

"The little ones don't know what to do, and the teen-agers sometimes think these things will never happen to them," Rev. Reeves said. "Doing things like screaming, for instance, something as simple as that can deter criminals."

The program, which has been featured on "Oprah," and received other national coverage, will include a speaker from Ravenna, Ohio, a video presentation and hands-on demonstrations.

The church decided to offer the class as a form of Christian outreach after the evangelism and church-growth committees discussed different ideas to reach out to the community.

Woven Together in Christ is the name for the church's growth and community outreach programs, Rev. Reeves said, and is considered a double approach for the church. "We're here to serve a mission and a part of our church-growth program is to find the need and fill it. We look for the needs in our church and in the community. We also try finding everyone's talents and utilizing them."

The church plans to offer the escape school again during this school year, and in the works is a seniors safety class taught by the same company.

"It will help seniors to protect themselves against scams and physical violence," Rev. Reeves said. "For instance, for ladies who carry their handbags on their shoulder, they don't have to carry every credit card in their wallet. Leave things home from your purse that you don't use. That way if someone takes it, not everything is lost."

She hopes that those who attend the class, especially children, realize they are not helpless in such situations. "To know that there are ways they can possibly help themselves, that's where empowerment lies. Fright is a crippler. If you are afraid, you cannot think. The more aware you are, the more you might react out of an automatic response. If you are paralyzed by fear, you can't do anything," she said.

The hour-and-15-minute class is being offered at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Oct. 26 in the church, which is behind Wal-Mart on Morefield Road. People may call to register as late as Thursday for Saturday's class, and as late as Oct. 24 for the Oct. 26 class.

The child must take the class with an adult -- a parent, grandparent, guardian, neighbor or godparent. "An adult with the child in the class can help to reiterate what they learn during class," Rev. Reeves said.

To register for classes, call (724) 981-2050; for information about Escape School, check out www.escapeschool.com