| Proverbs 22:3 |
| "... foresee danger and plan ahead..." |
| 02/08/10 - Church Security: small church mentality |
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After a recent full-day of training with churches I was reading the evaluations that we hand out at the end of the seminar. One comment caught my eye and I began to wonder how what I taught was being processed, by not only this person, but possibly many other people we reach. The comment was "Need more suggestions for very small churches". I felt like I had failed somewhere along the line after seeing this comment. One of the first things we teach is that there are different levels of risk and "Level I risks" and are threats that every single church faces in the United States, no matter what the size, denomination, or location. The principles of security and emergency planning, that are taught to minimize these threats, are applicable to any and all churches - period. The application of physical, electronic, and procedural measures apply to all organizations, as does emergency plans. The size, scope, and exact applications may be different, but the basics are the same. The argument I often hear from smaller churches is the lack of funds. However there are a variety of measures that can be implemented immediately and do not cost any money. Things like coordination with your local law enforcement, fire department, and emergency medical services does not cost anything. Developing the five key emergency plans does not cost anything. Teaching all staff and volunteers about security awareness is just time, not money. Locking doors that were previously left open, keeping lights on that are normally turned off, making sure landscaping is trimmed back, and asking your area neighbors to call police if they see people around the church after hours does not cost a dime. Changes in the way the church operates, handles money, and protects children are more procedural than material. The fact is there are many things that can be done to make any church safer and more secure immediately and the argument that smaller churches are different is a misconception of basic principles. If a church thinks small, their efforts will be small, and worst, they may perceive their risks as small, and this is dangerous. I travel all around the country and speak with Pastors, Elders, Deacons, and other church staff and volunteers. I see small churches doing some very good things in terms of security and emergency planning that are better than a lot of larger churches - they "get it". Criminals look for opportunity and soft targets, not the size. Take away the opportunities and harden the target and a small church can be as formidable as any large church. The first battle we all face is a spiritual one and the devil is a liar. Small churches should not allow themselves to be defeated before they are even challenged. In Christ, Jeff Hawkins Executive Director Comments on this article: contact us |