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...
Security Connections
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...
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...
Strengthening House of Worship Security Through AI-based Software
AI-powered risk mitigation and threat detection platforms are proactive guardians, helping any organization or facility where large numbers of people gather, including houses of worship, to strengthen their approach to organizational safety. These platforms don't just...
When an Active Shooter Strikes: What Do You Do?
The recent assassination attempt on presidential candidate Trump may have seemed unimaginable until it happened this past weekend. Gun violence has tragically become the new norm, infiltrating our schools, workplaces, and even our houses of worship. According to data...
SARGENT Has a Comprehensive Portfolio of Hardware Built to Stand the Test of Time
SARGENT, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand, has an expansive portfolio of door controls, electronic access control, exit devices and locks, including SARGENT’s PE80 Series exit device, which incorporates an extensive list of next generation features including new visual...
Preventing Embezzlement in Houses of Worship
Embezzlement can strike anywhere, even in places we hold sacred. In May, a former employee of Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa admitted to stealing $775,000. This shocking case highlights the need for stringent financial controls in houses of worship. What...
Church Health and Safety: Building a Better Medical Kit
Every church should have a medical kit. It's a simple way for us to be prepared to take care of those who walk into our buildings each week. Let’s take a look at some recommendations on what should be in those kits. We’re going to look at 2 ideas: first aid kits and...
New Corbin Russwin CLX3300 Series Cylindrical Locks with Visual Status Indicators
Corbin Russwin, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand, has released its new CLX3300 Series cylindrical lock with status indicators. Designed to elevate security and safety with an intuitive user experience, the CLX3300 Series is the ideal lock solution for sensitive environments...
How to Identify and Address Spiritually Abusive Leaders in the Church: A Lesson from Eli
We all want to trust the leaders in our church, and most of the time we can. But have you ever felt shamed by one, sat through toxic teachings you were too afraid to question, or confided in a leader only to have your trust betrayed? We don’t always recognize these...
Navigating the Pathways to Peace: Thoughts for the Faith Leader
Reflecting on my three-decade journey encompassing threat and crisis management alongside my vocation as an Episcopal priest, I am struck by the profound lessons gleaned from the intersection of these roles. This amalgamation has imparted to me a deep understanding of...
Morse Watchman’s K-12 School Key Control Solutions Improve Operations and Emergency Response Time
Morse Watchmans, the industry leader in key control and asset management systems, has a full lineup of key control solutions with unmatched expertise and robust technology that is bolstering security at K-12 schools nationwide, improving security operations, reducing...
A School Security Wake-Up Call
Imagine walking into an elementary school and noticing a classroom door permanently unlocked, secured not by a lock but by several layers of duct tape. This is exactly what my team encountered during a recent vulnerability assessment at a high school in Minnesota....
Active Shooter: The Citizen Response
If you find yourself at your house of worship when an active shooter event takes place there are a few things you should know and practice. We like to call this a Multi-Option Response. First, if you can safely do so, get out! Get out of the situation as fast as...