How to Keep Your Church More Safe and Secure

Some Preparations to Consider:

1. Put additional staff in te Sacctuary, one close to the front and one in the rear at minimum.

2. Do not allow unknown people to approach the podium or stage.

3. Keep security staff in the foyers and parking lots.

4. If you are not using radios for discrete communication, you need to start soon.

5. Be aware of your surroundings and the people in them.

6. Be on the look out for inappropriate conduct and suspicious activities such as people in unusual areas of the church, or sitting alone in a car in the church parking lot and surrounding streets.

7. Also, recognize the potential areas of concern such as the back parking lots, balconies, back stage areas or baptisteries.

8. Watch for people wearing unusual clothes that could hide weapons.

9. Watch for large packages such as duffle bags, music instrument cases that could hide a rifle or shotgun.

10. Watch for people that appear to be very emotional or distressed as well as displaying signs of unrest such as sweating or nervously glancing in all directions.

11. Watch for people entering after the start of the service.

12. Consider reducing the number of unlocked doors and funnel members and guests through one or two doors that are being watched by the greeters and security team members.

13. Make sure that you have medical staff available if possible.

Above All;

Know that God will watch over us and trust that He puts one of us in place if a wolf decides to attack our church.

Plan for the worst possible situation and Pray for Gods best for the church.

[from Church Security Member by Jack Justice]

Is Your Church’s Vision Too Small?

Why do people love to give time, money, energy, and love to parachurch organizations when they don't give time, energy and love to their home church?

Craig Groeschel suggests that it could be because the parachurch organization has a bigger vision than your church! Craig says: "Almost daily, I hear great church members excited about their 'outside the church' ministry."

Instead of complaining about why they don’t give, serve, or care about the ministry of the local church, why not ask why.

You might solve the dilemma by casting such a compelling vision for the power of the local church that the vision would draw their hearts back to the local church.

Celebrate and embrace whatever they are doing to make a difference.

[from MMI Weblog]

Stressful Jobs that Pay Badly: #10 Pastor; #5 Worship Pastor

According to an article from CNNMoney.com, two major church roles have the distinction of being the most stressful jobs that pay badly!

Coming in at #5: Music Ministry Director - Median pay: $40,800 - % who say their job is stressful: 67%

You may not think of people who plan, direct and conduct performances for religious services as being under a particularly high amount of stress. But they also choose the appropriate psalm or hymn for every wedding and funeral -- only some of the most important events in a family's life. And those stressful situations can create some demanding clients.

"Every now and then you'll get a strange request," said Dan Fenn, Music Ministry Director at St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn. "A couple of years ago I got a request to play the Beer Barrel Polka at a funeral. You have to ask yourself, is this appropriate for a worship service?"

Coming in at #10: Minister/Pastor - Median pay: $45,300 - % who say their job is stressful: 71%

They may answer to a higher calling, but all that spirituality does not come stress free. It's a lot of responsibility being an authority on morality. Leading religious worship every week and providing spiritual and moral guidance can be a heavy cross to bear for those in the ministry.

"People who are deathly sick, people with substance abuse problems, things of that nature, that can be emotionally draining," said Father Dan Skvir of Princeton, N.J. "I've had calls at 2 or 3 in the morning to come and attend to someone, people in imminent danger of death."

You can read more here...

[from MMI Weblog]

Good Reading

Great editorial by Bishop Randall Howard: CLICK HERE to read.

Great article by Thomas Feltman: CLICK HERE to read.

Great article by Milton Gordon: CLICK HERE to read.

Great magazine with many additional great articles.