You may have heard our "mantra" in past seminars, webinars, and other training, but it remains true: "Security is never 100%, but no security is 100% vulnerability."

We talk a lot about how to stop things like burglaries, thefts, arsons, and internal thefts, which costs Christian organizations over an estimated $100 million dollars annually in property loss.

But this should be secondary to protecting our own staff and volunteers; these are the people on the "front lines" in the church who make the church "work".

Yet, we still see over and over again, tragic incidents where these people are hurt or killed and it just doesn't have to happen.

Last week in an Oklahoma City church a female staff member, arriving for work alone early in the morning, was attacked, beat, rape, and sodomized in the church. The offender was a person with a violent criminal history, who was hired by the church's Pastor who wanted to "give him a chance to go straight".

Now there is a woman who will have to live with this vicious assault the rest of her life; she will never be the same and neither will those who know and love her. Their world has changed forever.

What if this victim was your wife, mother, daughter, or sister?

How would you be feeling about the church right now and that pastor's decision?

Make no mistake, the offender is the one who committed the crime and should be punished. But why was this victim even put into this position in the first place?

There are certain risks that we really, really try to get through to Christian leaders, especially those in the church, but I don't think it is working. One of those we "preach" over and over again is that the opening and closing of a church is the most dangerous times for staff and volunteers, especially women.

This isn't something we just made up, this recommendation is based on experience and tracking incidents. We have seen attacks where church staff and volunteers are beaten, raped, kidnapped, and killed while opening and closing churches. Just a few weeks ago in Arkansas, an 80-year-old, female, volunteer went into her church on a Saturday morning, by herself, and was attacked and beaten to death with a cross.

We try to teach churches to not let staff or volunteers enter the church alone if possible and when that is not possible, train them to be aware. Teach them to drive around the building; to look for anyone who is hanging around or parked in a car and not to enter if they see anyone. Teach them that once they feel it is clear, enter quickly and lock the door behind them immediately. Teach them to have their cell phone in their hand and call 911 if they notice anything or anyone that is suspicious, and don't hesitate to call the police at any time.

We know these measures will not stop all attacks; but not implementing them will mean that others will be hurt or killed in our churches in the future.

These incidents are not just statistics; they are real people, who are being put in harms way and they don't have to...but I am sure some will read this and think "This will never happen at our church."

I am sure this phrase is little comfort to the victims or their families.

It is time to stop this ignorance; it is killing good Christians and the church has to start taking responsibility.

In Christ,
Jeff Hawkins
Executive Director