As a father and a Christian, I’ve often thought it would be invaluable for senior leaders at my church to preach about social media safety to teenagers or situational awareness to kids heading off to college. However, like many of you, I’ve never heard these important...
Security
Illuminating Safety: How Lighting Enhances Church Security
Ensuring the safety and security of congregants and property is a top priority for any church. While churches are places of worship and fellowship, they are also vulnerable to security threats, ranging from vandalism to more serious incidents. Therefore, in the...
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...
Learning Series: Fortifying Faith Facilities
REGISTER AND DOWNLOAD NOW Houses of worship should be the safest places in the world. And yet, they have become a prime target for domestic terrorists, active shooters, and demented criminal rampages. Buildings filled with love are being targeted by hate. To...
Corbin Russwin Showcases Premium Lock and Architectural Door Hardware
Corbin Russwin, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand, has an extensive portfolio of door opening solutions, including Corbin Russwin PED5000/PED4000 Series exit devices incorporating a host of next generation features like visual status indicators, alongside a comprehensive...
Ask the Editor: Why Does My NSGP Application Keep Getting Rejected?
This Week’s Question from Dustin Harward at Lake Forest Church “I’ve applied for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) multiple times, but each time my application has been rejected. What am I doing wrong?" Dustin supplied his previous grant applications to...
The Role of Emotional First Aid in Comprehensive Church Safety Plans
Many of us are familiar with the basics of physical first aid. We may have even attended a CPR class to learn how to save a person’s life if they go into cardiac arrest. Well, there's another type of first aid that deserves our attention: Mental Health First Aid....
SARGENT Debuts New 8200 Series Mortise Lock with Motorized Electric Latch Retraction
SARGENT, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand, announces the addition of the new 8200 Series Motorized Electric Latch Retraction (56-) mortise locks to its offering of door hardware solutions. Purpose-built for demanding environments such as schools, hospitals, universities, and...
When Predators Come to Church: How to Harness the Power of Situational Awareness
On November 5, 2017, Devin Kelley shot and killed 26 people, including an unborn child. He wounded 22 other people at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and then killed himself. What grievance did this man have against this church? Nothing. He was...
Expert Insights with Jim Theis
Working with churches big and small for over a decade, I’ve discovered that both face similar hurdles in developing their risk management programs it all starts with one person. Jim Theis, Director of Facilities and Security at Westwood Community Church in Excelsior...
Iris ID Sets New Benchmarks in Identity Detection and Authentication
Iris ID, the global leader in iris recognition technology, is showcasing its portfolio of multi-modal iris and facial recognition solutions that deliver the highest levels of non-invasive personal identification and authentication accuracy. The frictionless solutions...
2024 NSGP Grant Alert: Key Updates and How to Gear Up for Application
As the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) gains momentum, the competitive landscape intensifies. This year, with funding down from last year's allocation, the challenge to secure funding is more competitive than ever. However, there's a silver lining: in 2023,...