Nehemiah 4:9
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
Nehemiah 4:14
And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
Isaiah 21:6
For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
2 Corinthians 6:15
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (Would you want to be associated in ay way with an infidel?)
James 2:20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
2 Corinthians 13:1
…In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Four basic Considerations For an Effective Church Security Team
*1. Situational Awareness. (or knowing what is around you at all times) (Is. 21:6) “Situational awareness” can be defined as “paying attention to what is going on around you.” Awareness is a choice. One has to choose to pay attention. Remember, never put yourself in a situation you can’t see your way out of.
2. Verbal de- escalation of conflict when dealing with disruptive persons ( How to approach a disruptive person without putting them instantly on guard, or triggering their flight or fight response.) (Prov. 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”)
3. Unarmed or non-lethal de-escalation (take the perp. down with pepper spray, stun gun, physical force, etc.)
4. Armed engagement (using a last-ditch effort to save lives).
Side notes:
* No one should be on a church security team without being properly trained in the 4 areas above .
* Everyone on a church security team should be properly trained in the use of their weapon.
* No one should be on a church security team If they are unwilling to use deadly force if necessary.
Remember, security can be balanced with a warm, welcoming environment at your church by using friendly greeters while keeping an eye out for the unusual.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”
James 1:19 KJV
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Principles for verbal de-escalation of a conflict situation
The four main goals of de-escalation give it its power.
• Keep lines of communication open. You’ll gain insight into the situation including things that may calm the person.
• Get the person talking. Much of a disruptive person’s frustration comes from feeling ignored or misunderstood. Also, when talking there is little chance for action.
• Actively listen. Make the person feel heard.
• Maintain control through clear and calm communication. You will be able to better control the situation by keeping the level of conversation quiet and calm.
Tips for Maintaining Body Language as you De-Escalate the Situation.
Remain:
* Mindful: be conscious of your posture.
* Open: use an open, yet defensible posture
* Move Slowly: use slow and deliberate movements.
* Don’t Point: never point at the person. It communicates accusations.
* Don’t Shrug: shrugging your shoulders communicates that you are uncaring or unknowing.
* Relax: don’t display a rigid posture, cross your arms, or puff out your chest. This shows you as defensive or aggressive.
Be aware of your facial expression:
• Relax Your Face: don’t furrow your brow or frown.
• Smile: start friendly with a natural smile. If the situation escalates it’s okay to relax into a neutral expression. Nothing is more aggravating than a fake smile.
• Eye Contact: keep and maintain natural eye contract. Never close your eyes or look away. Don’t stare. The person may interpret this as a challenge.
Be aware of your voice:
• Volume: keep your volume soft. Generally, the softer voice is matched. It’s also calming.
• Slow Down: your rate of speech should be natural or slower than natural. This is soothing.
• Friendly: keep your tone of voice friendly and helpful.
Keep your thoughts and emotions in check. They come across through body language:
• Maintain the Mind of Christ: do not prejudge, criticize, argue, threaten, encage in power struggles, or disregard the feelings or position of the person.
• Understand Without Agreeing: it is recommended using the phrase “I hear you.” It shows that you understand what the person is saying and the emotions they are feeling. It does not say you agree with their actions or interpretations.
Additional Tips Helping to De-escalate the Situation
• Avoid intervening too quickly. People argue and it is a healthy part of relationships.
• Avoid interrupting a disruptive person. The whole point is to get and keep him/her talking to calm down.
• Don’t ask “why” questions. Why questions are logic-based. Emotional people do not thing logically.
• Don’t rush the interaction. Time is on your side. Don’t try to hurry verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Avoid asking a lot of questions. If you do ask a question, it should be a “softball” type of question.
• Avoid accusatory statements such as “act right—this is a Church!”, “you’re acting crazy”, or “you need to calm down.” These statements are very inflammatory.
• Avoid saying “I know how you feel” or “things can’t be that bad.” This isn’t about you, and you can’t know how they feel. Do not suggest that things will get better because they may not.
• Avoid shouting or giving rapid commands. Don’t take anything personally (lying, tricking, deceiving, threatening, etc.)
Never make promises you can’t keep!
Secure-Family.net
Church Security Questions (Knowledge Exam)
What are the four basic steps of church security?
What is verbal de-escalation of conflict?
Explain Situational Awareness.
What is one of the best Situational Awareness principles someone should keep?
What is the one main thing you should never do when verbally negotiating with someone?
Name at least one OT and one NT Scripture in favor of Church security.
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