The Christian Security Network was started in 2008 because I felt a calling to start an organization that would bring about a sense of awareness, understanding, and communication about security and emergency planning for the Christian community.

It saddens me to inform you that this will be the last newsletter and we will stop operations at the end of September.

This probably isn't a surprise to many of you, especially after my recent articles stating my frustrations with the lack of commitment of the Christian community as a whole, but I do want you to understand the reason why we are not continuing and it has little to do with frustration; at this age and with my 30+ years experience in the field, I can handle frustration.

However, in order for any organization to succeed it needs resources and funding.

Resources to help complete the mission and funding to keep the operations running - we ended up with neither.

The reason we named the Christian Security Network was the "network" part of it.

The hope was that Christian men and women, church leaders, and law enforcement personnel would really rally behind this and create a community within a community - believers who are united in protecting our churches here in the U.S.

We failed.

And unfortunately we are not the only ones to fail at trying to help make the Christian community safer and more secure; colleagues who I respected and felt had the right message have also experienced what we have and folded.

When I was a young man and became a police officer, like most, I wanted to go out and save the world only to find out that the world really doesn't need you or want you, until something really, really bad happens.

This is basically the same scenario with the Christian community. Our phones light up as soon as there is a high-profile tragic incident, like a Pastor getting shot in church in front of his congregation - what a sad thing to have to wait for and to get people to act.

And even sadder is that almost all church leaders and believers really do not know what goes on in our churches every day and I mean every single day. The "It can't happen here" mentality prevails and I don't know how much more loss it will take for these folks to wake up?

More unfortunate and disappointing for me has been the companies, organization, and "fellow Christians" out there who profess they are trying to do the same thing for the Christian community, but in actuality they are guided by the dollar not the Lord.

Many of you have already started to ask for other resources since we will not be available any more and I wish I could point you to them, but I can't.

Further, I caution you as you move forward in your efforts to make your church safer and more secure to really look close at the "experts" out there. Find out what their affiliations are with companies or other organizations. Where do they get their funding? What are they selling? Look beneath the sheep's clothing before you do anything, buy anything, or take anyone's advice.

Listen but verify; any true professional in this profession will be transparent and open. Listen to the Holy Spirit when something or someone doesn't seem right.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many folks that helped CSN over the years.



Rod Martin at Navigate Tomorrow for putting the entire website together. We shared many long hours of discussion over many cups of coffee. Rod and his team are one of the best website designers in the business and Rod is a great Christian brother.

Palmer Holt, head of InChrist Communications, a Christian public relations firm that has also been with us from the very beginning helping us to reach the media, secular and Christian. And based on the media attention we have gotten over the years I can truly say Palmer knows his business and his knowledge of proper communication in a crisis situation is one that should be utilized by all churches. And again, Palmer is a friend and a great fellow believer.

The entire CSN Advisory Board, past and present; this diverse group of folks has added a layer to the organization that I feel many others lack. They are a blend of security, law enforcement, legal professionals who all have different backgrounds in their faith, yet jumped at the chance to help when I reached out. I am proud of every one of them and glad to call them my friends.

To our sponsors, old and new, I urge you to seek them out and use their services for all your security needs.

And a final thanks to every one of you, many have followed us from the very beginning.

Over these past few weeks, most of you that know me, knew there was a downward trend that could not be reversed. I have not had a chance to write every one of you back, but please know to all those who did write me, I read every word and it is very much appreciated.

One brother wrote that CSN has "planted the seed" in many minds to move forward in this effort to make the Christian community safer and I guess if even one church is safer than perhaps it was all worth it.

I encourage every one of you to continue your individual pursuits.

 No one ever said Christians are passive, boring, or weak...I think society has lead us to believe this, but it is wrong.

The Christian church has a battle ahead like we cannot even imagine and you must develop that warrior's mentality and be prepared for the fight, spiritually and literally.

As I said in one of my last articles the contemporary Christian band, Casting Crowns has a great new song out called "Courageous"...and I still want you to read the lyrics and ask yourself are you on the sidelines?

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

(read the entire lyrics at: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/casting-crowns-lyrics/courageous-lyrics.html)

This is not the end of my involvement of commitment towards security for the church. In fact look in the September issue of Church Executive magazine for an article I wrote on church security and one I have coming out in Police magazine talking about how law enforcement can help churches to become safer and more secure. I will also be speaking at the annual ASIS Conference next month in Orlando on faith-based security topics.

I am blessed to be part of the management team of American Military University and will continue to work in making the whole profession of the security field better educated and informed.

I always trust that God has a plan and I will always be listening and watching for what He wants from me.

I may always be reached through LinkedIn or at my AMU e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

May God bless you, may He watch over you, and may He keep you safe.

In Christ,

Jeff Hawkins

Child of God/Follower of Christ