We have never stated that the Christian Security Network (CSN) has all the answers when it comes to training for Christian churches.

Our basic seminar and our handbook covers things we, and others, have identified as key areas that church leadership really needs to look at to make their churches safer and more secure. The development of training material is an on-going process for CSN.

From criminal incidents to emergency situations, there are many risks that every Christian church faces in the United States. Just looking at the front page of the Christian Security Network website will show you in just ten days the range of incidents that churches experience.

We joke around at our seminars, and I have stated this during media interviews, that we don't train Ushers to be Ninjas. We don't teach churches to be paranoid and see a gunman in every corner of the sanctuary. And we have said over and over again that someone is more likely to die of a heart attack in your church than a gunman.

However recently people have contacted us, from the east coast to the west coast, where there are church security "experts" doing seminars, workshops, and conferences for churches in their area, doing the things I just mentioned above. One e-mail that was forwarded to us even offered, as part of their training, "tactical Uzi sub-machine gun course" - I kid you not. This organization highlighted all the terrible tragedies of an active shooter in churches over the years and stated, "This has got to stop!"

Another woman at a recent luncheon I spoke at showed me an e-mail for a church security seminar in a nearby state and asked if the Christian Security Network was conducting it. I looked at the e-mail and didn't recognize the organization or instructors, but I asked her to look at the course outline very carefully. It pretty much stated that they would teach things like how to handle a violent confrontation, handcuffing and proper restraints, and "take down" techniques.

Every single church needs training, there is no doubt about that, but the training needs to be balanced, reasonable, prudent, and not focused on any one particular aspect of security and emergency planning, unless it is being taught to people who already have the basics covered and it is some advanced course. But as we know from surveys, over 75% of churches do not have the basics covered and most lack any experience in security and emergency planning.

So to concentrate on guns, active shooters, and violence misses the point of what balanced training is all about.

We also talk about property crimes against churches at our seminars and point out that although there are hundreds of burglaries being committed every month against churches across the country, the average loss is about $10,000. Now, that is a lot of money, however the average loss of an internal theft or embezzlement within a church is $300,000. So if a church puts all its efforts into stopping the burglar and doesn't address internal cash controls, what are they really accomplishing?

You see, concentrating your training in any one area is going to make your overall plans one-dimensional. Your church may be very prepared to stop a gunman, but what happens when a child is lost or there is a fire or tornado?

We encourage you to seek out training, if not from us, from a reputable organization that understands what a balanced approach to training for the church really is all about.

Look at the organization that is conducting the training; see if Christian churches are their primary focus. Look at the course outline being taught, determine if it is balanced to give a solid foundation to build all your security and emergency plans. And before you implement any training, check with your insurance carrier, legal counsel, and local law enforcement because what you are taught may not be acceptable to any of these key players.

Training is an on-going process; one seminar is not all you need, it is only the beginning. And it is not all about guns, guards, and metal detectors and no one should be turning your Ushers into Ninjas.

In Christ,
Jeff Hawkins
Executive Director