Gearing Up for Safety

Equipping the Safety Team and the Church

From the Bible

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:17).

Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war ... (1 Chronicles 12:33).

The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the Lord of bright brass (2 Chronicles 4:16).

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where [the robbery victim] was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him (Luke 10:33-34).

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted ... (Isaiah 61:1).

Introduction: Taking Inventory

At the end of the old year or the beginning of the new, many businesses take inventory. The incentive for this is reporting what they have for inventory tax. However, inventorying serves another purpose. The business knows what they have. From this, they know what they need, what is out-of-date, etc. This applies not only to parts for manufacturing and items waiting to be sold, but also to equipment, tools, and general supplies used by the business. This also informs planning and decision-making.

It is appropriate for churches to inventory their equipment and supplies related to safety and security. From this they can plan to resupply, repair or replace, add, and upgrade.

In the News

Equipment plays a role in each of these news stories.

Security Cameras and Locks

Fairfield, California, October 22-24, 2018 - About 1:30 AM a thief entered the church parking lot on a bicycle. He tried to grab one security camera, but couldn't get it. Then he went to others, pulling down three of them. The entire incident was captured on video before the cameras went blank. The gates were unlocked. The pastor said that after this, the gates will be locked.[1]

Morris County, New Jersey, November 26, 2017 - A man was arrested on Sunday for breaking windows at four churches in the City of Morristown and at one in Morris Township on a Saturday night. He was identified from surveillance camera footage and outside lighting at each of the churches.[2]

Medical Equipment

Hilliard, Ohio, undated - The United Methodist Church in Hilliard is offering the use of used medical equipment, such as crutches and a wheelchair, to those who need them.[3]

Blue Springs, Kansas, February 2014 - A retired minister had a heart attack while preaching. A nurse in the congregation attached an AED, which advised her to "push harder." It then advised shock, which she applied. EMTs arrived and took the pastor to the hospital, where he received a pacemaker.[4]

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 27, 2018 - When an active shooter wounded several persons in a synagogue during Sabbath services, killing eleven, volunteers and police saved lives by using tourniquets. Many citizens and emergency responders in the Pittsburgh area had received "Stop the Bleed" training, including how to use tourniquets. That kept the death count from being higher.[5]

Weapons

Chicago, Illinois, March 28, 2018 - The Wednesday evening service in a church was interrupted by a man with a gun who came in announcing it was a robbery. A man sitting in the back pew had a licensed conceal-carry handgun. He pulled it out and challenged the robber. They exchanged fire. The defender had minor wounds, but the robber was taken to the hospital in critical condition.[6]

Evacuation Cribs

Nashville, Tennessee, April 6, 2011 - The Southern Baptist Convention, through the Baptist Press, notified SBC churches and institutions of a revision of safety rules by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The items of concern were cribs used in nurseries in churches and day care facilities. They needed to be made with sturdier materials, and the drop sides needed to be redesigned to prevent injuries to infants and younger toddlers.[7] * Note: This standard has now been in place for over eleven years.

Columbia, South Carolina, March 28, 2017 - A Child Care Licensing Expert from the South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care answered a question about using evacuation cribs for sleeping infants. The expert said that, according to the Chief of Fire and Life Safety in the South Carolina Department of Social Services, evacuation cribs can be used as regular cribs. This means that a church nursery does not need to keep evacuation cribs separate, but can include them among those being used regularly.[8]

Videocast and Show Notes

This article is the subject of a Sheepdog Church Security Academy videocast on YouTube (the audio is in a Church Security Roll Call podcast on Sound Cloud). Kris discusses the topic, drawing on his experience in the military, law enforcement, and church security. In all these areas, he knows the importance of having the right equipment, keeping it in good condition, and knowing how to use it.

In the comments section below the video screen is a link to the Show Notes (an article summary). The link is for this article until the next videocast is posted a week later.[9][10]

Equipped and Trained: A Key Distinction

The war in Ukraine has highlighted an important detail: readiness in equipment and training. Ukrainian armed forces were well equipped and supplied, and there were enough weapons to equip civilians for defense. Both the military and civilians were well trained. On the other side, when Russian troops entered Ukraine, they were not well supplied. Added to this, many of the Russian soldiers sent in were not adequately trained to fight an armed population trained in defensive warfare. The presumed "quick fix" has turned into a costly, drawn-out campaign for the superpower.

The lesson here for a Church Safety Ministry is that the church, its Safety Ministry, and Safety Team members need the right equipment and supplies for keeping the flock safe and secure. Having the right tools is not enough. People need to learn how to properly use them. Then, equipped, supplied, and trained, they will be able to meet the challenges as they come.

What Do We Need for Safety & Security?

There are some items that are essential for a Church Safety Ministry. The featured Sheepdog Church Security resource is "Equipped for Success: Recommended Essential Equipment." This is a good start for considering how to equip your church for safety. This 2018 PDF is only two-pages long, and there are now more items considered essential.[11]

Let's begin our list with the church, then move on to the Safety Team and the team members. * Note: This list is not comprehensive, but representative.

Equipping the Church

Some safety items will be attached to the church building and property, and must be approved by the congregation's governing board. All church safety equipment and fixtures should be inspected regularly - at least annually.

• Surveillance cameras are now considered essential safety/security equipment. They played a role in two of the above news stories. Beyond identifying criminals, a monitored camera can also warn of danger coming or spot suspicious activity. They can be placed both outside and inside. One inside use is to deter abuse in the childcare area. All cameras should record and be monitored.
• Entry alarms will notify a monitor (on-site or off-site) of attempts at illegal entry. This will enable the quickest response possible for the time.
• Well-paced outdoor lights may discourage vandalism and burglary by making the exterior of the church visible to neighbors, passers-by, and patrolling officers.
• Doors resistant to forced entry, both interior and exterior, are essential to hindering thieves and attackers. Strong windows are also needed.[12]
• Safety fixtures include sturdy handrails on stairs.
• Evacuation cribs for nurseries can get several babies out safely.
• Don't forget items for fire safety: (extinguishers, alarms, sprinklers, exit signs, emergency lights, etc.).

Equipping the Safety Team

The Church Safety Team needs equipment and supplies for both administration and response. The Safety Director and the Safety Committee should have, read, and refer to the book Defending the Flock by Kris Moloney.

Administrative Supplies

Here is a brief list of needed administrative supplies:

• Applications
• Background check consent forms
• Patrol logs
• Incident reports
• Injury reports
• Training Records
• Printing paper.

Response Equipment and Supplies

• Communication tools enable control and coordination of Safety Team activities. At the team level, this uses two-way radios. Also vital are weather radios, especially those with S.A.M.E. and local emergency alerts (such as evacuation or shelter-in-place advisories).
• If there is a medical emergency, it may require certain items for an effective response. This includes First Aid cabinets and bags, AEDs, mobility assists, and mass trauma bags. Some of these items are available through Mountain Man Medical (a Sheepdog Church Security affiliate). Some medical supplies have expiration times and need to be kept up-to-date.[13][14]

Equipping the Team Members

Safety & security items carried by Safety Team members may be either their own property or supplied by the team, depending on that congregation's policies and practices.

Items to Wear

• The safety belt is referred to in Ephesians 6:14. This is a kind of tool belt to hold the radio and other tools as well as a weapon (if the team member carries one).
• Unless a team member is to be incognito, it is good to wear a shirt, vest, or jacket that looks like those of other team members. The team member will have a name tag, and/or "Safety Team" or Medical Team" on the garment and visible.
• Good walking shoes, appropriate inside and outside, are essential for traction and foot health.
• A "Safety Team" or "Medical Response Team" safety banner identifies the person as a member of the team to responding law-enforcement officers.

For Watch and Patrol

Some items need to be carried at all times for watching and patrolling:

• Flashlights - Tactical lights are preferred. Use light to illuminate dark places. Of course, you'll need one at night.
• Two-way radio with headset/earplug. This is checked out at the beginning of a shift and turned in at the end.
• Pepper spray, if it is legal in that area, is a non-lethal defensive device.
• Something to take notes with.
• Camera to record items of concern on patrol. Can use the one on your phone.

For Medical Response

A few items are handy in case of a medical emergency. They enable an immediate response, at least for one person.

• Medical gloves
• CPR mask or face shield
• Tourniquet

These and a few others are in the Sheepdog Belt IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) sold by Mountain Man Medical.[15]

Sheepdog Church Security Store on Amazon

Several items for church safety and security, including some not named here, are available in the Sheepdog Church Security Store on Amazon.[16]

Conclusion

Inventory the safety equipment and supplies for your Church Safety Ministry. See that they are up-to-date.

Training Notes

Getting Church Safety Team members trained is important. They need to know what to do and how to do it. Have your entire team trained and certified through the Safety Member Certification program. It has eight training modules: Safety Team Fundamentals, Active Shooter Response, Deescalating Disruptive Persons, Protecting Children from Abuse, Basic Use of Force Laws, Arson and Fire Safety. Storms and Disasters, and Mass Trauma Emergencies.

There are three training formats: Team Certification (church-hosted classes), Individual Certification (self-paced online instruction), and Online Events (live Zoom classes).

The 2022-2023 Online Events school year has four quarters. Three classes are left in Quarter 2. The next class is "Arson and Fire Safety" on January 8, 2023.Members enrolling now can begin at this point and continue until they've completed all the classes.

A key training resource is Defending the Flock by Kris Moloney. Click HERE to get it and other safety items on the SDCS Amazon Store.[16][17]

Up Next

The next article is "2006 West Nickel Mines Amish School Shooting" (Lesson Learned).

References

1. Charmaine Nero, "Surveillance Cameras Capture Thief Before He Steals Them from a Fairfield Church," Fox 40, October 27, 2018 [https://fox40.com/news/surveillance-cameras-capture-thief-before-he-steals-them-from-a-fairfield-church/].
2. Shreesha Ghosh, "New Jersey Church Vandal Arrested After Being Caught On Security Camera," International Business Times, November 27, 2017 [https://www.ibtimes.com/new-jersey-church-vandal-arrested-after-being-caught-security-camera-2619986].
3. Anon, "Medical Equipment," Hilliard United Methodist Church, n.d. [https://hilliardumc.org/medical-equipment/]. [3]
4. Zoll staff writer, "Minister Saved in Church by AED and Bystander CPR," Zoll, June 2, 2014 [https://www.zoll.com/zoll-news/2014/06/03/minister-saved-church-aed-cpr].
5. Matthew D. Neal, MD FACS, "Pittsburgh trauma surgeon: 'Stop the Bleed' training saved lives after shooting, but stopping the need must be next," WHYY, November 5, 2018 [https://whyy.org/articles/pittsburgh-trauma-surgeon-stop-the-bleed-training-saved-lives-after-shooting-but-stopping-the-need-must-be-next/].
6. Theselfdefenseco writer, "Chicago Church Member Stops Attacker in Church Gunfight," The Self Defense Company, April 9, 2018 [https://www.myselfdefensetraining.com/volunteer-church-member-stops-attacker-in-church-gunfight/].
7. Erin Roach, "New regulations mean church nurseries must replace cribs," Baptist Press, April 6, 2011 [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/new-regulations-mean-church-nurseries-must-replace-cribs/].
8. SCDSS Child Care Licensing Expert, "Can the evacuation cribs for used for babies?" South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care, March 28, 2017 [https://scpitc.org/can-the-evacuation-cribs-for-used-for-babies/].
9. Kris Moloney, Sheepdog Sheep Security Academy, YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrrcSlOn6zG1ySOHYzQkdQ].
10. Kris Moloney, Church Security Roll Call, Sound Cloud [https://soundcloud.com/churchsecurityrollcall].
11. WGV, "Strengthen the Gate," Sheepdog Church Security, March 28, 2022 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/articles/strengthen-the-gate/].
12. Affiliate link, Sheepdog Church Security and Mountain Man Medical [https://www.mountainmanmedical.com/?aid=18].
13. "Mass Casualty Trauma Kit," Mountain Man Medical [https://www.mountainmanmedical.com/product/the-mass-casualty-trauma-kit/?aid=18].
14. "Mass Casualty Trauma Kit," Mountain Man Medical [https://www.mountainmanmedical.com/product/the-mass-casualty-trauma-kit/?aid=18].
15. "Sheepdog Belt IFAK," Mountain Man Medical [https://www.mountainmanmedical.com/product/sheepdog-belt-ifak/?aid=18]. "Sheepdog Belt IFAK," Mountain Man Medical [https://www.mountainmanmedical.com/product/sheepdog-belt-ifak/?aid=18].
16. Recommended Equipment for Safety Ministries, Sheepdog Church Security, Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/shop/instructor_moloney/].
17. Kris Moloney, "Defending the Flock: A Security Guide for Church Safety Directors," Sheepdog Church Security, December 12, 2017 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/19816747].