Always Learning

After building, training, and leading a quality safety team at a multi-site mega church, and now having moved to a "small" (600 people) church plant, I am learning a few things that I'd like to share with you.
The first is that people really don't like hearing how you did it before at xyz church.  My experience is a given at this point.  I don't need to validate my methods by pointing out my accomplishments.  I'm not saying this in a prideful way.  The fact that I'm the leader of the team means that the pastors and elders have confidence in my ability to perform in this ministry role.

Which leads me to the second thing.  I need to stop making my decisions based on what was done before.  Just because a particular strategy worked at that church, doesn't mean it's the best choice for this new church.  I need to look at each new challenge with fresh eyes and a clear mind.  I need to bring in interested members of my team and give them ownership.  I need to respect their opinions.

A third thing is what I refer to as legalism.  Let me just give you some examples of what I mean by this, because that word can be used in so many different contexts.  "If you are part of this team, then you are required to attend every single training."  "This is the only acceptable way to perform this task."  These are just two simple examples.  Saying things in this way is more akin to being a foreman on a jobsite rather than being a leader of a volunteer team.  I have never been the "foreman" type of person with one exception.  In the past I have worked primarily with cops, firefighters, and men with military experience.  These folks can respect a good leader, but often appreciate a cut and dried "correct" approach to situations.  What's truly important when you boil all of this down, is for me to lead out in the specific ways that I want my team to perform.  Die to self.  I'm Second.  Period.

Note to self:  Get the safety team guys a little something for Christmas to say thanks for serving!

Pastors Are The Worst

Ok not really, but well meaning pastors are often the first to request that your safety team pull double or even triple duty in areas like ushers and parking team.  Don't allow anything to distract you from your duties.

They don't understand that to work two or three seperate positions only hurts our ability to maintain vigilance for our primary task, which is the safety team.  They don't live in our world.  At a minimum they don't view the world in the same way we do.  Is this bad?  Not at all.  It's just different wiring.  They have a ministry role to fill and so do we.  

Respectfully decline their requests.  Help them understand your position.  Inform them what it is that you do and look for while serving as a Safety Team member.  More often than not, the pastor simply doesn't know everything that you are responsible for.  This can be a real eye opener for them.  

Look for ways to include your pastor/s in your information exchanges and your training sessions.  This is key.  If you want them to be simpathetic to your "cause" then you have to help them understand your ministry objectives.  They need to see how professional and proactive you are.  Get them involved and show them.   

I encourage you to write bi-weekly or monthly safety reports for your leadership.  This will keep them informed and in the loop.  They will truly appreciate your efforts to keep them in touch with every aspect of their congregation.  This can go a long way towards having a quality, on going relationship with the decision makers at your church or faith based organization. 

Stay Vigilant!

Church Security - Overt or Covert?

Here are some picture examples of both kinds of security teams.  They should be fairly obvious.  What I'd like to point out are some of the positives and negatives with each approach.  All in an effort to help you decide which strategy fits your church the best.  Just FYI, some of these will seem redundant.  The positive of one can actually become the negative of the other.  You'll get the idea.  Enjoy.

OVERT - Positives 

1.  People can not question who is in the authority position.  It's obvious through the way they dress.

2.  Attenders know exactly who to talk to if there's a problem.

3.  Bandits might think twice before causing trouble.  They can see from a distance that their crimes will be met with appropriate aggression.  Team members as deterrents. 

4.  If police or firefighters have to respond to your church, they will quickly be able to see who the good guys are.  This is especially helpful in the case of an active killer situation.

OVERT - Negatives

1.  People don't want to feel like they are being "policed".  Especially in church.

2.  The idea of a security team at a church can be a real turn-off to people.  

3.  Bandits know exactly who to target first when they attack.  Take out the opposition. 

4.  When people see that a church has a security team they usually wonder what's happened in the past or is happening currently that they need to be concerned about.  Are my children safe in this place?  Wait! Do these guys carry guns!?  

COVERT - Positives

1.  Very few people know you have a security team.  So there's really nothing for them to be worried about.  All seems normal here.  They can relax and be themselves.  New folks should feel welcome in your church.

2.  Tactical Advantage.  Bandits have no idea your safety team spotted them before they even entered the building, and have been watching their every move.

3.  Your safety team blends in with everyone else.  They are dressed similarly, (except for maybe a name badge) they talk and act like every other person in the church.  No one is scared or intimidated by their presence.  They could and probably should be part of your welcome team.

4.  They can carry radios and weapons concealed and no one is the wiser.  After-all, what's the point of having security if you don't give them the tools they need to protect themselves and others?

COVERT - Negatives

1.  It can be very difficult and dangerous for your safety team in the midst of an active killer situation.  The cops are running in looking for the guys with guns.  If your team is responding to the threat with their weapons drawn, they could get shot accidentally by the police.

2.  There can be a moment of confusion at the outset of an incident while the safety team asserts it's authority, due to the fact that parishioners can't tell who they are.

3.  If attenders have a problem or need help with something, they will tend to approach the closest person with a name badge on. This could be confusing for both parties.  

4.  Training intensive.  (not sure this is really a negative) This approach requires a good deal of training to make sure that your safety team members understand their roles completely.  They need to have appropriate responses mapped out for them so there is less confusion for the attender or individual having a problem.

5.  Bandits may feel a bit more freedom to attack your church because they assume you don't have security in place.

My opinion, after researching both options extensively, is that a Covert safety team is more advantageous.  The tactical and strategic options available to the covert team far outweigh the overt team's "officer presence" model.  Also, I can not overstate the importance of making new people feel welcome in your church.  We should be all about sharing Jesus with others.  That's the goal - period.

We will have a much harder time of this if people feel like they are being watched.

WWW.KINGDOMSHIELD.ORG

The Proposal

Let's talk about proposals.  No not the marriage kind.  No not the corporate sales pitch, though that's not far off.  I'm referring to the way you approach the leadership of your church with the idea of developing a safety and security team ministry. 

If you have had any kind of security related mishap or incident prior to your proposal, things should be easier for you.  It's not hard to convince leadership of the need for a safety team when you've just had an attempted child abduction.  On the flip side, If your small church is located in a remote rural area and the biggest safety threat you've ever experienced was mended with a bandaid, then you have your work cut out for you.

Here are a few tips:

1.  The ask should come from a member in good standing.  One that is highly involved in the life of the church.  One that serves unselfishly and gives generously.  This person should have the confidence to approach the pastor or deacons or elders and give them a well thought out summary of why it's in the church's best interest to build a safety team ministry.

2.  Know your facts.  Do some research on church crimes.  Understand the demographic of the people in your community and your church.  Be able to describe the types of crimes that are probably going to happen at your facility.  Don't worry about what could "possibly" happen.  That list will be overwhelming and a bit pointless.

3.  Develop a job description.  The first thing through the minds of leadership will probably be something about mall cops with guns.  You need to help them understand the level of professionalism and hospitality that your team will display.  They need to know that you're not just creating a good ole boys gun club.

4.  Be prepared with a basic budget.  Right after "mall cops with guns" will be "how much is this going to cost?"  I suggest doing some research on radio communication first.  In my opinion, equipping your team with a means of talking to each other discreetly should be a priority.  It's also one of the most expensive pieces of gear you will need to purchase.  Your budget could include things like radios, earpieces, flashlights, pepper spray, and training courses.  

5.  Be ready with a list of other "members in good standing".  Your leadership will want to know that you have chosen solid, responsible, trustworthy people to back you up.  I suggest you search your congregation for cops, firefighters, nurses, and those with past military experience.  These people tend to be great safety team members due to the nature of their occupations.  You also want an elder or staff member on the team for oversight.  

Church safety teams are more common now than ever, and it's not hard to point out the rise in violent crime all across the nation.  You know a safety team ministry is a good idea; now step up and take it on yourself to convince others of the importance.  Take your time.  Do your research.  Good Luck!!

Church Safety Teams

Every single day of 2014 I have received no less than four reports of violence against churches across the United States!  Stating the obvious, there have been many days with more than 4 reports of violence.  This is an astounding increase since the last major report was filed on this subject back in 2009 by the Christian Security Network and Mr. Hawkins.
I lead a very well trained group of men at Cornerstone Church of Ames and the issues we've had to deal with are varied and many in the 5 years we have had a Safety Team.  And we are in small town Iowa.
The issue is not where your church is located, though I'm quite certain that inner city churches and metro city churches have many problems based on location alone.  The problem is sin.  "Wait a second, you're suggesting that Satan would attack our places of worship specifically?"  You better believe it!  Any place that supports the proper work of God is going to be attacked by the devil.  Period!
It may not be a pastor committing a sex act with a minor.  It may not be criminals breaking in and stealing.  It may not be a domestic dispute gone wrong.  It may not be a mentally ill person attacking and killing parishioners with a gun.  BUT... It May Be All Of Those And Worse!
Just look at the statistics and you will see every crime you can imagine happening in or around churches.  It used to be that even criminals saw the house of God as holy ground.  You'd find the crooks in the pews on Sunday right next to the cops.  Well, not any more!  To the many bandits in our cities today, churches are "soft targets", that is they are easy to break into, steal from, manipulate, attack, and destroy.
This problem can no longer be ignored.  We can't wish it away with comments like "well God is in control, so whatever happens..."  Yes God IS in control, but he's given us minds and skills as resources to protect our loved ones.  Let's start using these to our advantage shall we?
There are highly skilled individuals out there just hoping for a chance to make a difference in your place of worship.  They might be the cops, fire fighters, and first responders already attending your services.  Or they may be the average Joe with a concealed carry license and a warrior spirit!
Start a Safety and Security Ministry at your church or faith based organization now!
Oh, and hire us to train them please.  :)  www.kingdomshield.org

Apathy Kills

Apathy is defined as the absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.  It is also a lack of interest or concern.

Are you apathetic to the point of being a detriment to your own health?  Think about this in terms of gun training.  You grew up hunting and of course know the basics of firearm safety.  You go to the range somewhat regularly and plink with your pistols, shotguns, and rifles.  You felt your rights slipping away and decided you had better get your concealed carry permit before Obama takes away all the guns.  You might have even gone as far as taking a basic NRA safety course...

Now in the world of recreational firearms ownership, all this is acceptable, and well within your rights, but in the real world of defensive shooting, all that doesn't mean jack!  Oh wait, you were in the Navy 40 years ago, and had to qualify yearly with a pistol?  Well that really means something.  Surely now I would have to agree that you are prepared to carry a pistol in defense of yourself and others...

WAKE UP!  Please, for the love of your family, your country, and your fellow man; get more training! 

"Ok mister know it all, how do you define quality training?"  Well I'm glad you asked! Here's a short list of things to look for when choosing a class and an instructor.
1.  The instructor must be a decent communicator.  If you leave a class saying, "well that was good information, but man that guy really needs to learn how to teach" then you probably got what you paid for.  Maybe less.
2.  Look for curriculum that fits your reality.  If the other men in the class have long beards, contractor caps, and tattoos, and they are talking about infil, exfil, and principle protection, you might be in the wrong class...
3.  I'm saying this as an NRA instructor: the only NRA classes worth your time and money are Personal Protection Inside/Outside the Home.  And these are potentially worthless based on #1 above.
4.  If an instructor uses the term "zombie apocalypse" in a way that makes you believe that he really thinks it could happen... turn and run!  Fast.

5.  The Quality Instructor will talk about ambush, bio-mechanics, physiology, point or intuitive shooting, the balance of speed and precision, understanding operational environment, use of cover, fighting in and around vehicles, drawing and presenting a pistol from concealment, proper grip, stances other than the weaver, lateral movement, the OODA loop, combat reloads, weapon retention, Hicks law, and combat accuracy.  These are just the topics off the top of my head.  There is way more to carrying a concealed handgun for personal defense than most people realize.  So get more training- you never know when the zombies will attack! ;)

In Summary:  get quality training or you are apathetic.  If you are apathetic toward training you will die quickly.  "You will never rise to your best intentions.  You will fall to your level of training." (Archilochus, Greek Soldier)

Mindset

Paranoid.  Obsessive.  Overkill.  Fear Monger.  Pessimist.  "Oh, you're one of those..."

Are any of the following true for you?

• you own multiple firearms of the same type (more than one handgun, rifle, or shotgun.)
• you stage firearms or weapons of any kind around your home for personal defense
• you train often in the deployment and use of the weapons you own
• you wouldn't be caught dead outside your home without atleast one firearm, knife, and flashlight
• you are wary of drivers that appear to be following you
• you walk wide around corners so as not be ambushed
• you cross to the other side of the street when you see a group of young men loitering in front of you
• your head is constantly on a swivel, taking in your surroundings
• you have an emergency evacuation plan in place for your family
• your vehicle contains items you would need to defend yourself and survive
• you have an emergency supply of food and water
• you have planned escape routes out of your neighborhood and city
• you frequently communicate with a network of people that think like you do
• you feel your local and especially your national government has too much power

This list can go on and on and on and...
It's unfortunate that what some people call crazy is just good common sense.
Of course to people like us it's simply a survival/combat MINDSET.