I am not law enforcement, nor do I have military experience. For the three women on our team, we all have the mama bear personality. I was chosen to be the coordinator of forty one people, mostly because I have good organizational skills! Identifying strengths of each of our persons has created a team that includes a team pastor and team shooting trainer.
The article really identified core issues and provided food for thought for evaluation purposes. Thank you for posting this. I plan on using some of the questions for interview purposes.
As in the overwhelming majority of “service in church” it’s always a faithful 10% who volunteer and half of those become totally dedicated and sacrifice. Then half of those would be wiling to die for someone.
William, so true. There are few who would run toward trouble instead of away from it. The greatest sacrifice is to die for another so they could live. That is double true when it comes to our children and grandchildren at church
Good information thanks guys. I was thinking of character traits this past week when our leader said a new member is interested in joining our team and he wanted me to be involved in the interview process. In self-examination I looked at my core attributes. Having grown up on a cattle ranch and my father was commuting across the Golden Gate to his medical practice I was alone in charge of the ranch. He was gone a lot. It was about keeping the livestock in and fed and watered, keeping the stray dogs out. Not the best Metaphor for a church but you get the idea. In church security I have been most concerned about the "John Wayne" syndrome, another poor analogy but. Starting someone out as an usher first then in time an enhanced usher. See how they do. I hope this helps!
Many thanks Keith and Matt! Excellent article and so very true!
Our Safety Team adopted 1 Peter 5: 2-3 as our motto.
“2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
God has thankfully provided us with a group that is 99% committed to serving, attending trainings and to our church. Never seen that in a volunteer group. A year ago we stepped up our training and requirements to join the Safety Team. We lost about a third of the team because of it, however God indeed provided as we gained more than we lost and every one we gained has not only a Servants Heart but is prior military, LEO or security in their background! Really strengthened the team!
Thank you so very much Keith! Your teachings has truly helped our team to grow and keep moving forward!
Thank you Keith. As the leader of a safety team, this is something I've been struggling with for some time. I have team members who have volunteered but can never make our training meetings or range days. It would be easy to become discouraged and bitter but this article has given me direction and confidence to address these issues. It's not their fault. They probably volunteered with good intentions to help without having a true calling for this ministry. Now, with confidence, I will meet with them and ask if they truly believe they've been called to this ministry. If not, there is no disgrace in moving on to a ministry they have been called to.
Great article indeed. The challenge I see is getting those who say they want to be involved, actually going through the information that gets sent to them. And then the lack of timely communication doesn’t help either. Can be quite frustrating to maintain a cohesive operation when the communication is lacking. Grace, peace and provision to those who stand in the gap for their fellow man!
Good information, Thank You for your service, past and present. Our team is still young in building just not in age. Trying to recruit younger (under 45 years of age), but they seem to be preoccupied with life. I’m praying daily for all who serve in the ministry of safety in our churches, nation wide.
Thanks so much for this great article! I'm on the leadership team of our Safety team (no security guards) and I've had it on my heart to begin investigating in each of our 30 members. Only about 7-8 are our core group, the ones who serve consistently and with their whole heart. We haven't done a ton of training together but those that have are the core group. Should we start weeding out those who don't show up to meetings, or who don't identify with the Protector's mindset? Some of them we have on the team because of their location in other service (sound board, ushers, etc) but protecting isn't their first gifting. Thanks for all you do, you're my first source of church training, safety, and news.
Thank Keith and Matt. You really nailed it. Church safety/security is very unique. It doesn’t really line up with anything secular. It’s really the front lines of spiritual warfare which requires special spiritual gifting.
This was a great article. I had one of are team members tell me he felt overwhelmed doing security but he loved to teach. He felt bad stepping down. I was happy for him because he found his true calling.
Thank you for an amazing article. I serve on our security team because that’s where I belong. With prior ( almost 45 years ago) law enforcement, and 41 years as a volunteer firefighter EMT, I find myself still watching people, looking to see who is carrying, and always sitting in the back at church. After several years, God has prompted me to do what I love and am good at, in service to Him and my church family. Thank you again Keith for your service to so very many of us. May God bless all you set your hand to do.
Keith, I could not say any of this any better. I have worked security in one way or another since I was 18, including 16 years as a voluntary auxiliary police officer and of course the church security team for 6 years. With that said, I have seen and worked with the great ones and I have worked with others that should reconsider. They can be a huge liability. The ones that don’t want to train and put in the time really need to think twice. While no longer on the church team, trust me, I’m still on the watch when I attend and the same is true anywhere else I go. It’s just in my blood. We have to recognize that it is not for everyone; even those with great hearts and intent. Everyone has their strengths and so there is always a place for them to serve. As for church security, there are duties for that team that does not necessarily have to include being armed and ready for confrontation and potentially combat, as I know you know. First that comes to mind is posts for observation like watching the cameras. That, of course, requires that horrible thing called “training”. Knowing exactly how to maximize the use of those cameras and the radio, more training, can be a huge asset to the boots on the ground. Imagine law enforcement working without a dispatcher. And then there are other ways to have posts in key areas for observation and the proper use of radios.
Keep fighting the good fight Keith. Your thoughts are like fresh air.
IMHO, they should be wearing something that clearly identifies them. It certainly does not need to be a full combat or even police uniform, nor should it be. A simple T-shirt weigh “security” on it would work. For some that may still be an issue with conceal carry and printing. But other ideas are team like design loose fitting button down shirts, or my favorite, blazer jackets.
I am not law enforcement, nor do I have military experience. For the three women on our team, we all have the mama bear personality. I was chosen to be the coordinator of forty one people, mostly because I have good organizational skills! Identifying strengths of each of our persons has created a team that includes a team pastor and team shooting trainer.
The article really identified core issues and provided food for thought for evaluation purposes. Thank you for posting this. I plan on using some of the questions for interview purposes.
Carol
As in the overwhelming majority of “service in church” it’s always a faithful 10% who volunteer and half of those become totally dedicated and sacrifice. Then half of those would be wiling to die for someone.
William, so true. There are few who would run toward trouble instead of away from it. The greatest sacrifice is to die for another so they could live. That is double true when it comes to our children and grandchildren at church
This article provides very useful information for self-screening and interviewing prospects.
I was also reminded about King David's security team contrasting them against King Saul's security team.
Thank you.
In Christ, Larry
Good information thanks guys. I was thinking of character traits this past week when our leader said a new member is interested in joining our team and he wanted me to be involved in the interview process. In self-examination I looked at my core attributes. Having grown up on a cattle ranch and my father was commuting across the Golden Gate to his medical practice I was alone in charge of the ranch. He was gone a lot. It was about keeping the livestock in and fed and watered, keeping the stray dogs out. Not the best Metaphor for a church but you get the idea. In church security I have been most concerned about the "John Wayne" syndrome, another poor analogy but. Starting someone out as an usher first then in time an enhanced usher. See how they do. I hope this helps!
I think those are great analogies. We use the John Wayne syndrome in law enforcement all the time. Thank you for your service to the church.
Many thanks Keith and Matt! Excellent article and so very true!
Our Safety Team adopted 1 Peter 5: 2-3 as our motto.
“2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
God has thankfully provided us with a group that is 99% committed to serving, attending trainings and to our church. Never seen that in a volunteer group. A year ago we stepped up our training and requirements to join the Safety Team. We lost about a third of the team because of it, however God indeed provided as we gained more than we lost and every one we gained has not only a Servants Heart but is prior military, LEO or security in their background! Really strengthened the team!
Thank you so very much Keith! Your teachings has truly helped our team to grow and keep moving forward!
Gods Grace be with you Brother!
Outstanding! Really sounds you did that reorganization right.
Thank you Keith. As the leader of a safety team, this is something I've been struggling with for some time. I have team members who have volunteered but can never make our training meetings or range days. It would be easy to become discouraged and bitter but this article has given me direction and confidence to address these issues. It's not their fault. They probably volunteered with good intentions to help without having a true calling for this ministry. Now, with confidence, I will meet with them and ask if they truly believe they've been called to this ministry. If not, there is no disgrace in moving on to a ministry they have been called to.
Great article indeed. The challenge I see is getting those who say they want to be involved, actually going through the information that gets sent to them. And then the lack of timely communication doesn’t help either. Can be quite frustrating to maintain a cohesive operation when the communication is lacking. Grace, peace and provision to those who stand in the gap for their fellow man!
You are not alone. Keep fighting the good fight and just do your best.
Good information, Thank You for your service, past and present. Our team is still young in building just not in age. Trying to recruit younger (under 45 years of age), but they seem to be preoccupied with life. I’m praying daily for all who serve in the ministry of safety in our churches, nation wide.
Correction/clarification on my comment. 'Serve out of a calling, not a need' (to fill a position.)
Thanks so much for this great article! I'm on the leadership team of our Safety team (no security guards) and I've had it on my heart to begin investigating in each of our 30 members. Only about 7-8 are our core group, the ones who serve consistently and with their whole heart. We haven't done a ton of training together but those that have are the core group. Should we start weeding out those who don't show up to meetings, or who don't identify with the Protector's mindset? Some of them we have on the team because of their location in other service (sound board, ushers, etc) but protecting isn't their first gifting. Thanks for all you do, you're my first source of church training, safety, and news.
Yes!
**Investing! Not investigating 😂
Thank Keith and Matt. You really nailed it. Church safety/security is very unique. It doesn’t really line up with anything secular. It’s really the front lines of spiritual warfare which requires special spiritual gifting.
This was a great article. I had one of are team members tell me he felt overwhelmed doing security but he loved to teach. He felt bad stepping down. I was happy for him because he found his true calling.
Thank you for an amazing article. I serve on our security team because that’s where I belong. With prior ( almost 45 years ago) law enforcement, and 41 years as a volunteer firefighter EMT, I find myself still watching people, looking to see who is carrying, and always sitting in the back at church. After several years, God has prompted me to do what I love and am good at, in service to Him and my church family. Thank you again Keith for your service to so very many of us. May God bless all you set your hand to do.
Keith, I could not say any of this any better. I have worked security in one way or another since I was 18, including 16 years as a voluntary auxiliary police officer and of course the church security team for 6 years. With that said, I have seen and worked with the great ones and I have worked with others that should reconsider. They can be a huge liability. The ones that don’t want to train and put in the time really need to think twice. While no longer on the church team, trust me, I’m still on the watch when I attend and the same is true anywhere else I go. It’s just in my blood. We have to recognize that it is not for everyone; even those with great hearts and intent. Everyone has their strengths and so there is always a place for them to serve. As for church security, there are duties for that team that does not necessarily have to include being armed and ready for confrontation and potentially combat, as I know you know. First that comes to mind is posts for observation like watching the cameras. That, of course, requires that horrible thing called “training”. Knowing exactly how to maximize the use of those cameras and the radio, more training, can be a huge asset to the boots on the ground. Imagine law enforcement working without a dispatcher. And then there are other ways to have posts in key areas for observation and the proper use of radios.
Keep fighting the good fight Keith. Your thoughts are like fresh air.
On a different note altogether, I was wondering if it's a good thing for security to wear anything identifying them as such?
Or is it better to be incognito?
IMHO, they should be wearing something that clearly identifies them. It certainly does not need to be a full combat or even police uniform, nor should it be. A simple T-shirt weigh “security” on it would work. For some that may still be an issue with conceal carry and printing. But other ideas are team like design loose fitting button down shirts, or my favorite, blazer jackets.
Thank you so much for this article. It was a great refreshment and reminder of what I am to be doing.
I've been reading John MacArthur's book "Called to Lead".
This is exactly what I read in it today.