Sermon on Security

I learned an invaluable organizational tip during my time in the Army, and over the years, I’ve adapted it to suit a variety of situations. While this article focuses on church security planning, the same principles apply to family reunions, community events, or any large gathering. If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I wish I…

The previous articles I’ve written focused on what can be broadly characterized as mindset or attitude. The logic behind emphasizing mindset for the Church Security Team member (CSTM) is the conviction that a proper mindset is both foundational and essential for effective service on a Church Security Team (CST). Once the CSTM develops the proper…

One aspect of church safety often overlooked is the importance of proper incident documentation. Granted, conversations about paperwork may not be as stimulating as topics such as active shooters, medical crises, choice of radios, or armed vs. unarmed security teams, but the need for proper documentation is extremely important. In this article, we will discuss…

Reliable and timely communication for a church security team is critical to ensure the effectiveness of the team. Team members must be able to disseminate information during “non-duty hours” for rosters, schedule changes, relevant training opportunities, and more. However, for this topic we want to focus on technologies and devices your team may use while…

When churches start a Church Security Team (CST), a couple of reactions usually occur. Some church members doubt the need for a CST, while other members eagerly volunteer so they can “officially” carry a firearm and being assigned a radio. The former perspective can be overcome through patient education, and the latter, if left unattended,…

While not all church security team members need to be armed, the harsh reality is Church Security Teams (CSTs) need to prepare and stage a potential armed response inside the church’s buildings. It’s not for the faint of heart. Armed security personnel must accept and prepare for the reality that he or she may be…

The idea of church security is not new. The biblical precedent is nearly 3500 years old! In the Old Testament the tribe of Levi provided security for the Tabernacle, the mobile sanctuary of early Judaism, and the Temple, the permanent sanctuary of Judaism. In The Book of Numbers, the Levites were charged to be both…