A Cautionary Tale: What Happened and Why? In November 2024, Kaitlyn Fisher, a 31-year-old former administrative executive assistant for The Presbytery of Kendall in Idaho Falls, Idaho, was sentenced to three to ten years in prison for embezzling over $330,000. The...
Security
Video Surveillance in Nonprofits: Compliance, Privacy, and Retention Guidelines
Security and other video camera usage has become nearly ubiquitous these days. Nonprofits regularly install and often use cameras around entryways for security purposes and for monitoring children’s programs, as well as for now similarly commonplace videoconferences....
Mobile Control Room Emergency and Safety Solution
RGB Spectrum®, a leading designer and manufacturer of real-time video solutions for defense and public safety, announces the release of the IPX Flyaway Kit™. A complete, miniaturized mobile control room, it provides a comprehensive suite of display and...
Day Three of CFX 2024!
This year's Church Facilities Expo draws to a close today in Chattanooga, TN, but if you can make it in, you should. Conference sessions covering a wide variety of topics in the areas of Leadership, Tech Arts, Security, Facility Management, and Church Building will be...
Day Two of CFX 2024
Today is the first full day of Church Facilities Expo 2024 in Chattanooga, TN. Attendees can register on-site from 7:00 - 3:00. Attendees can register for just the Expo, or for any of the 4 conferences. Anyone registering for a conference will also gain admission to...
CFX 2024 Begins!
This year's Church Facilities Expo starts today in Chattanooga, TN with one of the most popular features: Pre-conference masterclasses. Taking place from 1-5 PM, these sessions provide a deep dive into audio mixing, church security, leadership, and video storytelling....
How to Build a Trustworthy Church Security Team
On October 6, 2024, an unfortunate incident unfolded at the Church at the Epicenter in Burnet, Texas. Jacob Wayne Tarver, a 45-year-old member of the church's volunteer security team, reported that two armed men were attempting to enter the church during the Sunday...
Ask the Editor: How Do I Get Better Engagement for My Church Safety Training?
This Week’s Question from Matthew Evans at Calvary Lutheran Church, California "One of the struggles we have each fall is getting our team together for safety training. Someone is always committed elsewhere or missing. How do we get better engagement?" Matthew, you're...
Emergency and Armed Intruder Preparedness for the Holidays
As we approach the holiday season, you are likely gearing up for an increase in activity and attendance at your services and special events. As you plan for that flurry of activity, it is important to keep up your guard. More people and more frequent use of your...
Hurricane Helene Has Not Affected CFX 2024 in Chattanooga
While much of the Southeast, including Eastern Tennessee, sustained heavy damage during Hurricane Helene a week ago, Chattanooga did not experience damage, and the Chattanooga Convention Center, and downtown areas are open and functioning normally. Rest assured, CFX...
How to Prepare Your Church for a Safe and Joyful Holiday Season
As the leaves turn colors and the air grows crisp, we know the holiday season is fast approaching a time filled with excitement, joy, and lots of church events! While this is one of the most wonderful times of the year, it also brings unique challenges for those...
IDIS Americas Introduces Innovative I-Mobile Transit Video Security Solution
IDIS Americas, a new IDIS business unit formed from the recent merger of IDIS America and Costar Technologies, announces the launch of its new I-Mobile System, ushering in a new era of advanced transit video surveillance. The new solution delivers high-performance 4K...
Exploring the Masterclasses at CFX 2024
Responding to popular demand, CFX will again be offering special masterclass sessions in the areas of Audio, Video, Security, and Leadership. These sessions take place on October 21, the day before the expo and general sessions, and require separate registration. The...
We Need Your Help!
Hello, I’m Gene Lass, Editor-in-Chief of Security Connections. To better serve your informational needs we’re looking for input on the topics most important to you and your church.Please take a minute or so to complete the...
Discover the Church Safety Conference at CFX
This year, the Church Facilities Conference and Expo, held in Chattanooga, TN October 21-23, will consist of four separate conferences at one location, with attendees of each conference having access to the Expo, with more than 160 exhibitors. The Church Safety...
Navigating Election Day Tensions: How Churches Can Prepare as Voting Stations
In today's polarized climate, where a simple difference of opinion can spark conflict, how does a church, especially one serving as a federal voting station, prepare for the heightened tensions that accompany a presidential election? A few weeks ago, I was assisting a...
Expert Insights with Carl Chinn, Executive Director of the Faith-Based Security Network.
In a recent discussion, I sat down with Carl Chinn, Executive Director and Founder of the Faith-Based Security Network, to talk about his experiences with a deadly shooting at his church and how it affected his journey in security ministry. Carl, your journey in...
Morse Watchman Showcases New Emergency Key Grab Kit
Morse Watchmans, the industry leader in key control and asset management systems, adds emergency management to its long list of core competencies with the presentation of its Emergency Key Grab (EKG) Kit. The EKG Kit is designed to facilitate a swift emergency...
We Need Your Help!
Hello, I’m Gene Lass, Editor-in-Chief of Security Connections. To better serve your informational needs we’re looking for input on the topics most important to you and your church.Please take a few minutes to complete the...
Planning for Safety in Children’s & Youth Ministries
Protecting the next generation is one of the most sacred responsibilities we hold within our church communities. The Bible speaks to this in Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16, and Matthew 19:14, where Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to...
Why Every Church Needs Tabletop Exercises for Emergency Preparedness
Last week, while visiting a church in Atlanta, we conducted two crucial tabletop exercises, one on responding to a bomb threat and the other on an active shooter scenario. These exercises reminded me of an essential truth: no plan survives its first real test. I’m...