There is a ton of truth to that. I'll show up and speak at an agency or church, only to find out their staff has been saying the same thing for years. It always sounds better out of someone else's mouth, though, I guess.
I just retired from my position as head of security for the Catholic Church I attend. I spent many hours alone in the parking lot overseeing the safety of parishioners. Many of those that helped have left California. I found myself trying to get the next gen to assist, but to no avail; with others saying that security was not needed and the pastor taking a very passive position. Thus, I surrendered the fight, but stay on alert, armed and ready. I still send out all your alerts to the small number who are on the team. Hopeful that it will catch the pastors attention. Thank you for your support.
I know the feeling. It took me 2 years to get pepper gel for my unarmed team members. Yes,they have been trained. So thanks for the reassurance that I'm headed in the right direction. Thanks for all your work. You are truly a blessing. You are prayed for daily.
I have and am in the same boat. I have even mentioned and sent your training by email to the Pastor, Trustees and Stewards, some are familiar with it and the rest say how good it is. We do have the security system and cameras as well as a police on seen every Sunday. My concern now is that they want to open 2 of the 6 doors on Sunday, before only 1 was open. A gentleman came into our sanctuary at the end of service a few Sundays ago and began taking pictures. He was addressed and walked out with one of our parishioners a short time later. To this day no one knows who he was dressed in black t-shirt and a back pack with a little boy dressed the same. He did say he was from Germany but nothing else is known. The police officer informed me if they will not listen to my suggestions stop talking, huh. I have done so because being a female they don't listen to me. My experience working at the police command at JFK in NY has taught me to pay attention to everything.
I've read all the comments posted so far, and I want to first state that Keith Graves has dropped some powerful wisdom and reality. Let me mention that I learned this in 'green dot' training that brought sexual assault training from comparing men and women as offenders and victims to a realistic approach where if all we can achieve is going from A to D, that is progress in an audience that can't go from A-Z that day. Romans 12:12, a valuable scripture : Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Keith I labored for over a year to see my church take safety seriously. All for not. I finally resigned my position as Safety Ministry Director. I could not in good conscious put my team in harms way because I didn't have confidence in the church backing us up. The church didn't even uphold their own policy with children and teachers.
Yesterday, in Frisco, Texas, this almost came home to roost for a church that had a daycare adjacent. They had a person fleeing from police enter and barricade himself in the church.
Thankfully, he didn't get to the daycare, and the situation was resolved without further incident after several hours.
I needed to see this. My Church Leadership has their heads in a pie bowl. I believe that something is going to happen and my Church is unprepared, and undertrained.
Too many pastors take a shortsighted view of safety out of fear of creating a less biblical and welcoming environment. I have found most people react very positively to knowing there are people on watch in order for them to worship without worrying if someone will come into the Sanctuary and harm them. I have had success in pointing out protecting the flock as well as the physical assets of the church is based on the Biblical concept of Stewardship. It is certainly the prerogative of the Pastor to risk his life for Jesus, but it is not his place to make that decision for others.
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink! All the above suggestions are totally true. Pray nothing happens and hope they come to their senses!
Document, Document, Document. For several reasons:
- CYA (cover your assets), shows due diligence on your part if an attack occurs.
- it can serve as a security assessment tool if/when the community wakes up.
- the security threat analysis aspect may convince / influence a more common sense minded member to “join” (or ‘buy in to”) protecting the church, so that you no longer appear as a ‘lone ranger’outlier’ crying wolf.
My church do the same thing to me when I tell the pastor about an incident here and there, he would dismiss me and even the executive director of the congregation. I preach about the four front door which are easy targets for some NUT JOB to drive a vehicle through and then come in and shoot it up. I propose to place decorative planters in front which still allow access for wheel chairs and EMS to get through. They keep stalling me, want to see a written proposal on the cost and this and that. The pastor would not allow me to conduct drills with the congregation. I have a team of only four members. Everyone wants to pay lip services but I cannot get support. I am also a certified ALERRT instructor for Civilian Response to Active Shooter. I will never give up I will keep trying.
Brothers & Sisters, some advice from an old guy (retired out of the legal field):
1. SHORTER IS BETTER. Keep your written suggestions to church leadership SHORT. I mean ONE PAGE…two at most. One is BEST.
2. SEPARATE THOUGHTS: Use bullet-format or numbers to draw attention to the important points. Notice how much easier it is to read these thoughts, rather than one continuous paragraph.
3. START SMALL. Only address what is needed TO GET STARTED ; it’s easier to build upon a foundation than to throw up the entire building at once.
4. KEEP IT SHORT. People do not read and comprehend well in our current society. They will NOT read and comprehend multi-page documents. KISS Method…Keep it Simple, Stup!d. 😇😂
5. Be patient; be persistent; BE POLITE. Did I say be polite?
6. BE PROFESSIONAL. Reread your paper several times for spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Get help if necessary. You won’t look professional if you use “seen”instead of “scene,” or “weather” instead of “whether.” Proofreading is a developed skill. Find someone with that skill set.
Years ago I attended a training seminar where the speaker said, “Expert speakers can only be found several thousand miles away.”
There is a ton of truth to that. I'll show up and speak at an agency or church, only to find out their staff has been saying the same thing for years. It always sounds better out of someone else's mouth, though, I guess.
I just retired from my position as head of security for the Catholic Church I attend. I spent many hours alone in the parking lot overseeing the safety of parishioners. Many of those that helped have left California. I found myself trying to get the next gen to assist, but to no avail; with others saying that security was not needed and the pastor taking a very passive position. Thus, I surrendered the fight, but stay on alert, armed and ready. I still send out all your alerts to the small number who are on the team. Hopeful that it will catch the pastors attention. Thank you for your support.
I know the feeling. It took me 2 years to get pepper gel for my unarmed team members. Yes,they have been trained. So thanks for the reassurance that I'm headed in the right direction. Thanks for all your work. You are truly a blessing. You are prayed for daily.
I have and am in the same boat. I have even mentioned and sent your training by email to the Pastor, Trustees and Stewards, some are familiar with it and the rest say how good it is. We do have the security system and cameras as well as a police on seen every Sunday. My concern now is that they want to open 2 of the 6 doors on Sunday, before only 1 was open. A gentleman came into our sanctuary at the end of service a few Sundays ago and began taking pictures. He was addressed and walked out with one of our parishioners a short time later. To this day no one knows who he was dressed in black t-shirt and a back pack with a little boy dressed the same. He did say he was from Germany but nothing else is known. The police officer informed me if they will not listen to my suggestions stop talking, huh. I have done so because being a female they don't listen to me. My experience working at the police command at JFK in NY has taught me to pay attention to everything.
Thanks for your insight and information.
Roz J
I've read all the comments posted so far, and I want to first state that Keith Graves has dropped some powerful wisdom and reality. Let me mention that I learned this in 'green dot' training that brought sexual assault training from comparing men and women as offenders and victims to a realistic approach where if all we can achieve is going from A to D, that is progress in an audience that can't go from A-Z that day. Romans 12:12, a valuable scripture : Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Keith I labored for over a year to see my church take safety seriously. All for not. I finally resigned my position as Safety Ministry Director. I could not in good conscious put my team in harms way because I didn't have confidence in the church backing us up. The church didn't even uphold their own policy with children and teachers.
Yesterday, in Frisco, Texas, this almost came home to roost for a church that had a daycare adjacent. They had a person fleeing from police enter and barricade himself in the church.
Thankfully, he didn't get to the daycare, and the situation was resolved without further incident after several hours.
Great advice
An issue I know I have run into.
Love your updates.
I needed to see this. My Church Leadership has their heads in a pie bowl. I believe that something is going to happen and my Church is unprepared, and undertrained.
Too many pastors take a shortsighted view of safety out of fear of creating a less biblical and welcoming environment. I have found most people react very positively to knowing there are people on watch in order for them to worship without worrying if someone will come into the Sanctuary and harm them. I have had success in pointing out protecting the flock as well as the physical assets of the church is based on the Biblical concept of Stewardship. It is certainly the prerogative of the Pastor to risk his life for Jesus, but it is not his place to make that decision for others.
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink! All the above suggestions are totally true. Pray nothing happens and hope they come to their senses!
Document, Document, Document. For several reasons:
- CYA (cover your assets), shows due diligence on your part if an attack occurs.
- it can serve as a security assessment tool if/when the community wakes up.
- the security threat analysis aspect may convince / influence a more common sense minded member to “join” (or ‘buy in to”) protecting the church, so that you no longer appear as a ‘lone ranger’outlier’ crying wolf.
My church do the same thing to me when I tell the pastor about an incident here and there, he would dismiss me and even the executive director of the congregation. I preach about the four front door which are easy targets for some NUT JOB to drive a vehicle through and then come in and shoot it up. I propose to place decorative planters in front which still allow access for wheel chairs and EMS to get through. They keep stalling me, want to see a written proposal on the cost and this and that. The pastor would not allow me to conduct drills with the congregation. I have a team of only four members. Everyone wants to pay lip services but I cannot get support. I am also a certified ALERRT instructor for Civilian Response to Active Shooter. I will never give up I will keep trying.
BTDT…great advice, Keith
Brothers & Sisters, some advice from an old guy (retired out of the legal field):
1. SHORTER IS BETTER. Keep your written suggestions to church leadership SHORT. I mean ONE PAGE…two at most. One is BEST.
2. SEPARATE THOUGHTS: Use bullet-format or numbers to draw attention to the important points. Notice how much easier it is to read these thoughts, rather than one continuous paragraph.
3. START SMALL. Only address what is needed TO GET STARTED ; it’s easier to build upon a foundation than to throw up the entire building at once.
4. KEEP IT SHORT. People do not read and comprehend well in our current society. They will NOT read and comprehend multi-page documents. KISS Method…Keep it Simple, Stup!d. 😇😂
5. Be patient; be persistent; BE POLITE. Did I say be polite?
6. BE PROFESSIONAL. Reread your paper several times for spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Get help if necessary. You won’t look professional if you use “seen”instead of “scene,” or “weather” instead of “whether.” Proofreading is a developed skill. Find someone with that skill set.
Prayers for your success.