Christian organizations - churches, schools, ministries and missionaries - still struggle with concept of security and how it applies, if at all, to their institution and the Christian community as a whole.

In fact, a poll of almost 3,000 churches, taken after the church shooting that occurred in Knoxville, Tennessee in July, 2008 by ONENEWSNOW.com, showed that only about 22% of churches had active security and emergency plans in place (or were developing them), and slightly less than 50% did not have any at all.

• Threat: (noun) - "a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger"
  
• Security: (noun) - "the state of being free from danger or threat"

Just looking at the definitions it seems pretty simple: there are threats (or risks or dangers) and there are security measures that can be taken to lessen or eliminate those dangers.

The remainder of those polled shows one of the larger discourses in the Christian community; that about 27% did not believe security was necessary at all.

Please understand that I am not an "alarmist"; I don't see men with guns walking in every church or terrorists in every shadow waiting to eliminate the Christian community. I am a Christian. I believe that God is sovereign and He is the the ultimate power in our lives.

However I am also a "realist".

I believe when the Bible talks about foreseeing danger and planning ahead (Proverbs 22:3), standing together in strength (Ecclesiastes 4:12) and doing good for all believers when we have the opportunity (Galatians 6:10).

And from my 28-years in law enforcement, security and emergency services I know there will continue to be incidents of violence, such as "active shooters". I know that based on statistics a person dies of a heart attack almost every minute. I know that children are molested and abused by adults every day. I know there are terrorists that want to destroy the way we live in America.

The Christian community is at risk from all these things, as well as from natural disasters, accidents, and crime in general to name a few. And they will occur in the Christian church, in the Christian school, at the Christian ministry and against Christian missionaries.

This is why we started the Christian Security Network.

Together, we can learn, we can make informed decisions that are reasonable and prudent, and we can unite to protect those who want to serve the Lord and make sure they can do so safely, with His blessing.

I pray that you will join us and become part of the solution.

In Christ,
Jeff Hawkins,
Executive Director