{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Church Security: From the parking lot to the pulpit","description":"www.MinistryPacific.com The risk of attacks on churches is growing as American society continues to destabilize. It\u2019s no longer optional for houses of worship to provide security at their facilities. But how can a genuine concern for protection be balanced with a compassionate stance toward the community? Faith-based organizations face the challenging of protecting their flocks from arson, violence and vandalism, while straying true to their spiritual missions. The answer is not to militarize. Rather, houses of worship should focus on training a group of lay people who begin by practicing situational awareness and de-escalation in the service of the church. Training and the involvement of people in all levels of ministry can elevate the security of houses of worship. Partnership with a third-party, professional security trainer is often part of the plan. In this interview, Tim Peterson, director of Church Security Solutions for Strategos International, joins us to draw up a blueprint for church security. Details will differ (for example, some churches choose to operate without firearms), but basic principles are the same. Security is a team effort of lay people who use their senses to engage in awareness and action. Security professionals are welcome, but are not mandatory. Church security begins in the parking lot and extends to the pulpit. It involves parking lot attendants, ushers, children\u2019s workers, greeters and others with an alert mindset. In our interview, we discuss a holistic approach to security, faith and ministry. Ministry Pacific is an insurance broker devoted to serving the needs of churches and nonprofit organizations. We connect faith-based groups to property and liability coverage and also specialty protection such as active shooter and violent incident insurance. Contact us for a free consultation at www.MinistryPacific.com. ","author_name":"Insights with Ministry Pacific","author_url":"http:\/\/www.MinistryPacific.com","html":"