Safety & Security

According to a report by the FBI, 6,121 hate crimes were reported in 2016, 21% of which were directed against people or institutions due to their religion. That’s more than 1,200 religious hate crimes. FBI statistics also show that religious hate crimes seem to be on the rise; in the first 4 months of 2017,

As a church leader, you should make sure to use a church volunteer background check when screening for sensitive volunteer roles. What exactly is a background check? A background check is a screening procedure, often requested by employers or organizations that work with volunteers. The organization carrying out the background check will typically search public

By Brad Kitchen Not many endeavors face as many unknown risks as churches and sending organizations. Those that do spend a great deal of time and money preparing for what could happen. However, many churches and mission organizations have personnel who face great risks on a daily basis, but all too often very little preparation

This article originally appeared in the January 2015 issue. This information is courtesy of ACTIVE Network, which produces Fellowship One software for churches, www.activenetwork.com. You were called to be ambassadors of peace and safety. Once upon a time, the lack of peace and safety church leaders worried about mostly happened somewhere else; occasionally in homes,

People attend church for comfort, safety, and a sense of belonging. They don’t expect to feel unsafe or to have their security compromised during mass or prayer but, unfortunately, places of worship have become targets in our increasingly polarized world. Aside from political-fueled violence and bigotry, churches also often store valuable items of cultural and

A person trained to respond to injuries and medical emergencies may know what to do but not have what is needed at the time. Some things can be improvised from what is available and may save a life or limit the extent of damage…but what can be done is limited, and some emergency procedures, such

By Dwayne Harris “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” — Acts 20:28 Is church security an option or a mandate? Many pastors are fully aware of the various threats and

By Jason Maddox There are many cost-effective ways to secure your church daycare or preschool facility. In this article, we share eight best practices for church daycare security using a combination of policies, procedures and technology to protect the children and employees in your care. 1. Develop Policies & Procedures Manual If you don’t already

By Mike McCarty It was not long ago that we would have been discussing how important it is to conduct background checks on prospective employees, volunteers and even existing employees. I am not saying that the ship has sailed, but most of you took notice and implemented a background screening program. Good for you. Now,

By Greg Hartzell For decades, a house of worship was a sacred place that could leave its doors open both day and night. Crime would be left at its doorsteps. But times have changed, and so have the criminal mentality towards churches, synagogues and mosques. All around the nation, the faithful are finding criminals unfazed