The incident at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church on February 11, 2024, where a mother caused her son to be caught in the cross file with the church security team’s gunfire, opens a poignant chapter in the narrative of America's mental health care. The real victim, beyond...
In the realm of church safety and security, a new legislative proposal, dubbed H.R. 6981 the "Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act of 2024" has stirred both concern and confusion. This bill has sparked a flurry of headlines, YouTube analyses, and social media...
On a quiet Sunday, February 11th, at approximately 1:53 PM, silence at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, was shattered by gunfire. This church, widely known as the home of Joel Osteen's mega congregation and housed in the former Compaq Center, welcomes over 45,000...
A Brief Overview: The Israel-Palestine Conflict and Recent Escalations Situation in the Gaza Strip Israel has issued a relocation notice to approximately 1.1 million residents in northern Gaza, a move the United Nations warns may have severe humanitarian consequences....
I'm excited to share a project we at Worship Facility have passionately been cultivating behind the scenes for the past six months: a newsletter, Security Connections! We've heeded your numerous inquiries over the past year, seeking greater insights on risk management...
I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Wes Pederson, Director of Safety and Security at Eagle Brook Church in Minnesota, one of the top five churches in the country. Together, we delved into the intricacies of ensuring the safety of twelve campuses and the...
In today’s world, even our most sacred spaces are not immune to danger. Karen’s story uncovers a pathway to reinforce our churches, both spiritually and in terms of security, emphasizing the power of community. I first met Karen in 2017, a safety conscious church...
Last week, a client we mentored through the Non-Profit Security Grant (NSGP) process received a $125,000 award from their State Administrative Agency (SAA) for security improvements. Can you visualize the heightened safety and peace of mind this could bring to your...
On March 27, 2023, a chill ran down America's spine when Aiden Hale, born Audrey Elizabeth Hale, open fired on the Presbyterian Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. Three innocent children and three adults became victims of another heartbreaking incident at an...
If you go to our homepage and click on "Resources" on the grey navigation bar, you'll see a listing for "WF Editorial Advisory Board." If you click there, or conveniently, on this link here, you'll see bios for our current advisors. We didn't just form our board,...
In the realm of church safety and security, it's common to hear the need for better protection of our building perimeters. This sentiment arises after tragic church attacks or when incidents like theft or assault are reported to have occurred. While the secular world...
Threat assessment programs are an essential tool for preventing violence and managing risk at your church. One of the questions that I get asked on an ongoing basis is “How do we address this threat to our church?” A few years ago, I wrote my bestselling book Securing...
We now have the first month of 2023 behind us, and I can't tell you how excited I am about what we have in store for you throughout the year. We're less than a year into our launch, and already you've shown a huge amount of interest in the content we've provided, week...
Worship Facility Editor Gene Lass and church security expert Simon Osamoh reveal how to use staff training as well as technology to identify potentially dangerous behaviors of individuals in and around your worship facility to prevent catastrophic events before they...
If you’re looking to improve your church security in 2023, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your congregation, volunteers and staff are kept safe. These five things will help you maximize the safety and security of your church, while improving on...
The Christmas holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also be one of the most dangerous times for churches. From natural disasters to active shooters, your church needs to be prepared for anything that could put your congregation at risk. As a...
Last week in Jackson, Mississippi, 23-year Delvin McLaurin was arrested on charges of arson with felony malicious mischief. He was suspected of committing seven fires in a matter of minutes on Tuesday morning. In those arson attacks, two prominent African-American...
With the holiday season fast approaching it’s that time of the year when we fill our ministries with volunteers to support our kids programs. At this busy time, there can be a tendency to relax the volunteer onboarding processes or in some cases remove it, but this is...
Events like the civil unrest across the world following the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis Minnesota in 2020 showed that when the unexpected strikes, emergency operations plans (EOP) need to be ready to prepare church staff and volunteers in how to respond to...
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