&THE WATCHMAN’S ROLE

CHURCH SECURITY

STEVEN PADIN

MATTHEW 26:38“…tarry ye here and watch

with me.”

“WATCH” – to take heed lest through

remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly

overtake one

First Baptist Church Maryville, Illinois

Fred Winters NamelessShot and killed Fred Winters

WALKED IN 10 MINUTES LATE – WITH COAT ON BACKWARDS

Last service 3/8/09

“…authorities say the criminal appeared to have

planned the attack, since he referred to Sunday as

‘death day’ on a planner found in his Troy home and

he carried enough ammunition to kill 30

people.”

John 18 records that when the soldiers came to

arrest Jesus, several of his disciples were with him.

He stood up to the soldiers, insisting that his disciples

be let go.

You protect your flock because you love them!

And when we are “under the influence” of love - we are protective of others!

In Acts 20 Luke writes that we are to have a watchful

and protective eye towards each other.

THE EARLY CHRISTIANS. They were conscious of threats against them, and

took precautions. They often met in secret - an act of defense - because they

knew about the opposition outside their doors.

DID JESUS EVER USE “FORCE” TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S PURPOSES? Yes, He did! When He entered

the Temple and saw that they had turned it into a marketplace, He made a whip and drove them

out!

Use of force

ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCH SECURITY RULES Should they be a part of the church

Should they have a distinguished uniform

Should they be armed Spiritual maturity

GUN RULE AT CHURCH

Jeanne AssamDec 9, 2007

Colorado Springs

Subject ‘s killing spree was stopped by this armed church security guard, saving the lives

of 100 + persons

1- Select the LEADER (not pastor)

2- Leader –* chooses others, or* accepts nominations

3- Conduct background checks4- Leader selects 1 or 2 as a kind of “lieutenant”5- Initiate interview process

NEXT…EE TEAM meets and forms a

“security policy” for the church

NEXT…EE TEAM meets and

practices

Protecting the people when

they gather at the church

Identifying those who might cause harm

Domestic Violence Issues May 2006. Man enters church in Baton Rouge, shoots and kills 4 people, abducts wife and 3 children – later kills wife

February 2006. Detroit – shotgun in hand, man kills 2. Police say it’s domestic dispute related

Lovingly confront known

sex-offenders who attend your

church

FIRST LINE of DEFENSE

PARKING LOT

TROUBLE can possibly be detected and deterred here

FOYER (point of entry)

After RECOGNIZING suspicious behavior,

RESPOND

RESPONDING Approach the suspicious

person with a partner Strike up a conversation

using “contact-cover” Use great care in HOW you speak to this individual

Conversing with the suspicious

Never touch anyone unless you’re ready to respond to their action

Make sure there are 2 of you

Touch is a last resort.

DISARMING AN ARMED SUSPECT

Your very best effort at providing security at your

church is NOT ENOUGH !!!Psalm 127:1

More than anything, we need to rely on the Lord for if we don’t ,

our efforts are in vain.

PSALM 127:1

…except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

TWO THINGS YOU MUST KNOW

1- Recognizing your adversary

2- Resisting your adversary

Ephesians 6

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against

principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

So what are we to do?

We must use our SPIRITUAL WEAPONS just as surely as we would use our physical weapons.

Joshua and the people of Gibeon Your weapons:

Prayer Discernment

Acknowledgement to police officer Jimmy Meeks

for providing majority of slides