A church shooting occurred where six people were wounded at a Chicago area church on Saturday, August 1, 2009 during the funeral of an admitted gang member.  A man approached a group of people standing outside the west side church and shot one man.  As he fled, he turned and was able to shoot five additional people. Inner city churches face violence on a daily basis, and many have an informal church security plan.  It is apparent the sacred place of a church is no longer protected from anyone bent on violence. (Picture by John White, Chicago Sun Times).

This appeared in the Chicago Sun Times  and was written BY Mary Houlihan and Mile Lanso Staff Reporters

Chicago-Six people were wounded in a shooting outside an Austin church while a funeral was being held this afternoon.

At noon, the Gospel Truth Life Church at 5301 W. Madison was filled with an overflow crowd — with more funeral attendees standing outside when shots were fired, Chicago police said.

At some point during his funeral, police said, a male shooter approached the storefront church on foot, aimed a gun at a man standing outside and shot him multiple times in the abdomen.

“We were clapping our hands and praising the Lord when the shots started, and we hit the floor,” said a woman at the funeral. “It’s obvious somebody was out for revenge,” said the woman, who did not want to give her name.

As the shooter fled the scene, he fired several more shots randomly into the crowd, police said.

The shooting was “definitely gang-related,” said spokesman Kevin Kilmer.

Four men and two women between the ages of 27 and 45 were injured, authorities said, and were taken to area hospitals. One remained in serious condition; the other five were in good condition, officials said.

“It’s very tragic. People just don’t have respect for the house of God anymore,” the Rev. Renaldo Kyles told WBBM-Channel 2.

Authorities said they were reviewing footage from two police cameras in the area and interviewing witnesses.

“We have a couple of witnesses that are cooperating, but most of the witnesses out there are not cooperating,” Grand Central Deputy Chief Roberto Zavala told Channel 2.

No one was in custody as of this evening.

“It’s sad, really sad, that something like this has to happen,” said Robinson’s cousin, Taikwan Cooper, 17.

Glen Evans interviews CSA member Matt Loomis on what it took to get his church security team established:

Concerned pastors and laymen come to the Church Security Alliance for simple advice about beginning a church security team or a church medical team. Our focus is helping churches establish security protocols, policies and procedures, and guiding them in the process of establishing working teams.

Matt Loomis, former police officer and current pastor, looked around his denomination and didn’t hear too many people talking about church security. Recently, he was asked to make a presentation to his denomination at a recent conference. Listen in as I talk to Matt about the local church’s greatest concern and how he established a church security ministry at his church in Iowa.

Click The Play Button Below to Listen Now!
[audio:http://churchsecuritymembermedia.s3.amazonaws.com/ConferenceRecording-958487-451379.mp3]

Get Information On Church Security Starter Kit Here

Police investigate incidents they are labeling a hate crime against two churches. View the video below for the whole story.

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Antioch, CA – Thieves were captured on church security cameras removing an emergency supply trailer from a church parking lot. The thieves were observed breaking windows, hooking up the trailer to their vehicle and driving away.

The church pastor stated, “Somewhere you have to find forgiveness and feel sorry for them because only those with mental problems would try to attack a church, much less a disaster trailer set to help people in need.”

I would like to think the people were mentally ill, and I would expect a peace loving person to say this, but the truth is there are evil people out there who believe nothing is sacred, and if they can get something for nothing, they will do it in a heartbeat.

Surprisingly, this is the biggest reasons churches don’t take the necessary steps for church security. Although they preach total depravity of man, they don’t always take it to the logical end. Mankind is inherently evil, and the days are evil. Why as a community of faith are we surprised by this?

Check out the video below for the full scoop.

The Volunteer Church Security Team

Listen to the audio testimonial. Click the play button.

[audio:http://churchsecuritypodcasts.s3.amazonaws.com/booktestimonial.mp3]

“Your “Basics…How to get Started” manual has been a great help. I’m not sure our presentation to Pastor would have been as effective without it. My partner is impressed with it too, and is ordering his own copy, so he doesn’t have to swipe mine.”
Steve R.

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Do recent events have you concerned about your church’s security plan or lack of a plan? Have you been considering developing a church security ministry in your church, but you do not really know where to start?

When a church is confronted by the evils of child abuse, robbery, domestic violence, stalking, and church shootings, it is natural to ask many questions, but primarily, “What is our responsibility to provide a safe environment for our members?”

Has your church examined it’s liability If you have not done due diligence? What is at stake if background checks are not done, a child is abused, or the unimaginable violent event happens in your church? The importance of having your church’s policy and procedures in place BEFORE an incident happens is extremely critical. Knowing who is going to handle each responsibility, how it is going to be done, and documenting exactly how it was handled is expected in our litigious society.

How does your church assess threats? How would your fellowship respond to a bomb threat? How can your security and safety team care for the member or guest with an appropriate medical response? What if a tornado occurs during a worship service? How should the team respond? Or worse, what if a church shooting occurs, do you have a plan in place?

Failing to have a plan in place can be disastrous for your church. Contingency planning, training, and documentation are essential for reducing church liability and really protecting your congregation.

Here is the information you need to start a Volunteer Church Security Ministry. Stages of team development, risk analysis, setting up a team, choosing team members, talking to church management, policies and procedures.

Topics in this guide include:

Understanding the Reason Your Church Needs a Security Team

Why Should Churches Start a Safety or Security Team?

Planning for A Safety/Security Team

Church Risk Assessment: Where will you get Hurt the Most?

What Type and Size of Security Team Does Your Church Need?

Building a Church Security Team to fit the Church Size and Needs

What Can Your Church Security Team Legally Do?

Team Selection – Who Should You Choose

Using Off Duty Police or Volunteers for Church Security?

The Importance of Criminal Background Checks

Do You Have an Emergency Church Crisis Management Plan?

Working With Local Law Enforcement

Notify the Local Law Enforcement Agency about Your Team

Use of Force Continuum’s – Introduction and Chart

Protecting the Church Offering – The Risks

Protecting the Church Offering – Procedures

Dealing with Unruly People

Seven Things Never to Say to Anyone, and Why

Bomb Threats or suspicious Packages

Evacuations

Security for the Children’s Ministry

The Church First Aid Kit

Understanding AED Basics

Another Church Shooting? Should We Arm Ourselves?

Church Security Teams and Carrying Sidearms.

Should the Entire Team be Armed?

Use of Force Policy (check local laws)

Use of Force – Physical Contact

Use of Force – Impact or Chemical Defensive Weapons

Use of Force – Deadly Force Weapons/Firearms

Four Self Defense Moves For A Close Quarter Attack

The Expanding Baton

OC Spray

The Taser

Team Response to the Active Shooter

Single Person Response To The Active Shooter

The Need for Intelligence Gathering by Church Security Teams

A Review of the Knoxville, TN Church Shooting

California Church Shooting – Critical Incident Review

Church Building Security

The Guardian Call –The Story of Church Protectors

Bomb Threat Information Sheet

Hate or Anti-Religious Groups – Menacing Person or Weapons Threat Sheet

Sample Security Team Application

Sample Incident Report Sheet

Incident Report Log

Risk Assessment Form

The Church Security Ministry is such a vital part of our church ministry. People come to hear the wonderful message of Jesus Christ…it needs to be in a safe place. The Church Security Team provides the church family the freedom to focus on ministry while they keep the environment safe and protected. It is a new day in church life and the security and safety ministry is a must!

For a limited time, anyone purchasing the CSA The Basics Of Church Security Manual will receive the CSA Member rate of only $55.99 (plus 8.00 shipping and handling).

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You may pay with Mastercard or Visa.  Easily follow the directions on the order page, securely submit your order, and we will send you your CD. Shipping and handling will be included, as well as a 7% Ohio sales tax. You will receive a receipt via email.

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For a limited time, buy both the How to Start A Church Security Manual and the Easy Start Up Manual and save $20.00 The total price for both products is normally $145.98, but for a limited time you can order both products for $125.98 (plus tax, shipping and handling). Simply click on the green Add to Cart below and we will ship both information products to you by United States Postal Service. If you are just starting out, this is a great way to get going in a hurry and save a ton of time. We have done all the work for you, and this is the most comprehensive guide and start up CD available.

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Is Your Building Secure?

One of the first critical items in church safety and security is to walk around your property and the building and decide where you are and what you need to do to reduce your liability and decrease the attractiveness of your church as a place to take advantage of. We have put together the “Building Security Review Sheet” to give you an idea of what to look for. Even if you are not an seasoned security professional, the items on this list will start you on the path to understanding what can be done to make it a little harder for the burglar, thief or sexual predator to take advantage of the church. This list includes a number of items sent to me as well as the items that I personally use when evaluating a facility. Adobe Reader is required. Read More…

The Physical Building Security Plan needs to provide todays churches and faith based facilities with the ability to put as many layers of protection between them and the defined risks to the church, members and visitors. Todays’ criminal will take advantage of the traditional church that is open for prayer and worship at all times. Churches may be surrounded by low walls, trees or hedges, which assists the thief in avoiding detection. Criminals have decided that the church, with their computers, music systems, AV systems, and money are a soft target that provides “low risk” high value opportunity. Read More…

In 2004, in Beslan, Russia the local school was over run by radical terrorists.

The local police were not ready for anything like this.

The incident was well planned and lasted for three days.

The following is a review of the known details.

Read More…

Church Video Surveillance Systems

Security camera technology has become smaller and easier to use. With the shrinking of technology, people other than law enforcement and private eyes have resorted to using hidden security cameras to protect their business, home, and worship facilities.

The simplest camera set up consists of four components. First, the security camera you want to use. Second, whether it is a hard wired system or wireless system. Third, how you want to record activity caught on video. Fourth, a monitor to watch recorded or live video.

A 4 camera security system is perhaps the easiest system to set up depending on the size of your building. Many camera systems are wireless, which makes it easy to set up security almost anywhere. In the church setting, this type of system can watch the nursery, children’s ministry area, sanctuary and entrance area/parking lot area.

Choosing The Right Camera

There are many options for setting up a church video surveillance system. You have traditional cameras, but the technology has become much, much smaller. A bullet camera is small and is easy to set-up. It is a small camera lense that is available in black and white, color, and some that have night vision.

These types of cameras are great for securing your property and have assist you with crime prevention. They are a good deterrent to anyone thinking about harming you or your property because they are visible and dissuade improper or illegal behavior.

If you are monitoring a children’s ministry area like a nursery, toddler or elementary area, then smaller cameras are available.

Hidden cameras are small, wireless board cameras inserted in everyday items, and set up in a room without the target knowing.

Everything the person does is captured on video and sent via a wire or captured on a wireless receiver.

Wireless Camera System or Hard Wired System?

A wireless camera system is very simple to set up. Once the camera is in place and the twelve hour battery is charged and ready to go. All signals are sent through the air and captured from 1000 to 2500 feet away (depending on wall structure).

A 2.4 GHz receiver captures the images and records them onto a DVR (digital video recorder) or a VCR. The receiver plugs into your DVR computer or it plugs into a VCR.

A hard wired system is where the camera wire runs from the camera and plugs directly into the VCR or DVR. It is a little more difficult to conceal it, but it is also less expensive.

Choosing Your Recording Device

Once your have chosen the camera and its signal delivery system, you have to decide how you want to record it.

Digital Video Recording or DVR allows you to capture all activity on a hard drive of a computer. The advantage of doing this is it allows you to view all captured activity at a glance, as opposed to going through video after video. You also have the option of viewing your camera system activity via the internet with a DVR system.

The software that allows you to do this is called VISEC. You log into your account and watch what is going on while you are at home.

The other way of recording activity is with a regular VCR. As mentioned earlier, the downside to using a VCR is having to keep track of all video tapes, and then watching the videos to see what happened.

Setting Up Is Easy

Setting up your camera system is very easy, and should not involve professional installation assistance depending on the number of cameras involved and whether it is hard wired or wireless.

Wireless cameras tend to be easiest to set up, and the accompanying software allows you to begin recording activity as soon as its set up.

Regarding a church security ministry, utilizing a church video surveillance system can help you maximize man power, and place steady eyes on an area when you can’t be everywhere at once. Additionally, a surveillance system can be hidden through the use of small camera technology depending upon the needs of your church.

Listen to a Podcast on Church Video Surveillance

[audio:http://churchsecuritypodcasts.s3.amazonaws.com/churchsecuritysurveillance.mp3]

I know old Nehemiah wasn’t building a church, but he had a mess on his hands. Sent back to build the temple and the wall, he was been threatened by “outsiders” intent on killing him and driving he and his friends back to Babylon (not on a bus mind you). The enemies weren’t seeking to give them a bus ticket, but wanted to kill them because they were so angry. What’s Nehemiah to do? Hmmm, find some burly men with keen eyesight…and give them the order to guard and protect. (Yes, that is me posing for a warrior picture, ahem).

Listen to This Podcast on Church Security and a Biblical Defense

[audio:http://churchsecuritymember.com/media-files/churchsecuritytalk.mp3]