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!!