SARGENT, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand known for innovative door lock and hardware solutions, is excited to announce the latest evolution of its 10X Line bored locks now featuring visual status indicators. Designed to provide clear, instantaneous confirmation of a door's...
Security Connections
10 Essential Tips for Holiday Security at Houses of Worship
With families drawing close in heartfelt reunions and congregations deeply immersed in celebrating the birth of Christ, the Church's holiday season emerges as a beacon of unity, and spiritual devotion. Yet, amidst these cherished moments, the modern church faces...
Church Safety and Security Plans: Nice to Have or Need to Have?
During a finance meeting last week, I received a call from a church leader. They were discussing the adoption of a safety and security plan for their 130-member congregation. The only question they wanted me to answer was, "Are these plans nice to have or need to...
Corbin Russwin ML2000 Series Mortise Lock Available with Motorized Electric Latch Retraction (MELR)
High-resolutioCorbin Russwin, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand, introduces the newest function for our ML2000 Series mortise lock - Motorized Electric Latch Retraction (MELR). Engineered for demanding commercial, institutional, and industrial applications, these new locks...
How a $330,000 Church Embezzlement Exposed Crucial Financial Gaps
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...
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...
Our Newsletters Had a Makeover!
You may have noticed a new title when you opened up your emailed newsletter today, or maybe a slightly different look to the masthead. You're not imagining it, the titles did change. To celebrate a full year of our vertical newsletters, we've altered the titles to...
The Power of Community in Church Safety and Security
Last month, I attended the Church Facilities Expo (CFX) in Chattanooga, Tennessee, making my annual pilgrimage from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to present at the security conference. Whenever I have the opportunity to stand before an audience eager to learn about church...
What If You Could Unify All Your Security Systems?
In May this year, a Minneapolis teenager was sentenced to more than 30 years for a fatal shooting that shut down the Mall of America (MOA) in Bloomington, Minnesota during the holiday shopping rush in 2022. Nineteen-year-old Taeshawn Adams-Wright pleaded guilty to...
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...
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...
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...
Handling Threats and Disturbances
Safety is increasingly on church leaders’ minds. It takes little imagination, unfortunately, to picture a scene of violence and turmoil at a religious assembly, public gathering, or other program activity. How should leaders handle these situations proactively and...
Five Minutes to Save a Life: Your Guide to Medical Emergencies
When a medical emergency strikes, the first few minutes are often the most critical. How you respond during this time can make all the difference. Whether it’s a heart attack, severe bleeding, or any other urgent situation, knowing what to do can help stabilize the...
Staying Legally Compliant: Do’s and Don’ts for Nonprofits During Election Seasons
To what extent may Section 501(c)(3) nonprofits engage in political advocacy? The answer to this question has become particularly acute, as our country’s next national election quickly approaches, and vigorous political discourse escalates with each passing week. This...
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...
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...