Thank you for volunteering to be a part of the church security/Safety team. Security and safety is a very important part of worship. People like to feel that they can come to church and worship God in complete safety and security without someone coming in and disrupting the service, causing harm, or vandalizing personal or church property. This is where you stand in the gap.
“The best thing you can do to avoid injury and loss of life is prevent the attack in the first place.”
“When preventative measures fail, being caught without the means to defend yourself, (or others) even in a house of worship, is a mistake you might only get to make once.”
[“Keeping Your Church Safe”by Ron Aguiar]
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. Sufficient & proper training of volunteers, with annual updates in…
2. Verbal de- escalation of conflictwhen 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)
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).
*No one should be on a church security team without being properly trained in the 4 areas above. So, take it upon yourself to be properly trained.
*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 or afraid 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.
Side note: Always document and report incidents or safety situations that may arise in the performance of your duties as a church security team member.
“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
As the Scripture text states in 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.” The Scripture is implying here that these provisions are not only food, clothing, shelter, proper education and medical care, etc., but protection from harm as well (Exodus 22:2).
Also consider Nehemiah 4:14 “…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.”
More Suggestions for Keeping The Church Safe
- Security cameras with someone monitoring them at all times during services & events is strongly suggested.
- Physical random patrolling of the parking lot and grounds around the campus during services & events. NOTE: Security personnel should always work as a two person team when patrolling the parking lot!
- Two way radio communication is strongly suggested. (With The chief of security monitoring all transmissions.)
- Work with local law enforcement, if possible, asking them to Periodically and randomly Patrol the parking lot During service times and special event time periods.
- Develop a church security plan as part of the security policy. Then Create a manual outlining the policies & procedures of your security program and make sure everyone concerned reads and understands them.
If there should be any questions, the Pastor or security team leader will try to answer them.
© 2023 Don Woolett, www.https://Secure-Family.net 270-723-5184