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Church Security
by Pastor J. Mark Martin
You're having a church service and a
man comes running through your
church parking lot, pursued by a
police officer, zigzagging through the
cars. In an effort to elude the officer
he begins to head towards the sanctuary
doors, leading to hundreds of
people who have gathered for worship.
Just a hundred yards from the
front doors, a security volunteer
tackles the man and holds him until
the police arrive a few moments
later. Upon searching the man it
was discovered he was packing a
9mm hand gun. Needless to say,
church leaders could only imagine
the tragedy that could have occurred
and were so thankful that they had a
security plan in place.
With a heightened awareness of the
dangers inherent in our culture in
public venues, churches are also at
risk. Many churches don't want to
look at security because the church's
supposed to be a "spiritual" place,
but in today's culture, part of caring
for God's "flock" is making their
environment secure. Many church
leaders are now asking the hard
question; "What can we do to make
our church a safe, secure place?"
HERE'S WHAT SOME
CHURCHES ARE DOING:
- Consulting security professionals.
- Training volunteer security teams.
- Discreetly monitoring entrances
and exits.
- Training ushers to watch the congregation
during the entire service.
- Providing adequate lighting in
parking lots.
- Equipping security teams with
appropriate communication tools;
such as cell phones, 2-way radios, etc.
- Installing video cameras at all
entrances, and in children's ministry
hallways.
- Monitoring all video cameras.
- Training their congregation to
report suspicious activity.
- Implementing "no backpack"
and "no large bag" policies at all services.
- Developing a list of potential
risks, and hazards of their church
campus and addressing them.
- Developing a "worst-case" scenario
response and rehearsing it with
all staff, leaders and volunteers.
- Hiring off-duty law-enforcement
officers.
- Providing careful check-in and
check-out procedures in their children's
ministries.
Of course, even the best planning
cannot avert all potential tragedies,
but thinking through your church's
security is part of being a wise spiritual
leader.
All this being said, the Lord doesn't
want us to operate in fear. Whenever
we move out, or respond in fear, we
put ourselves on unsteady ground.
The cure for fear is faith in God and
trusting in His Word. David gives us
some very encouraging words: "Rescue me from my enemies, O
God. Protect me from those who
have come to destroy me… But as for
me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy
about your unfailing love. For you
have been my refuge, a place of safety
when I am in distress." Psalm 59:1,
16, NLT.
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