Think About it -- EXPERIENCE IS...

Since the dawn of time there has been a roaring lion seeking to destroy good. He used to prowl like a shadow in the dark, but his attacks are now openly displayed every day. As the moral compass in America lost its own north, he crept into our sanctuaries. By the end of the 20th century, we were seeing too many violent attacks on concentrated defenseless groups to ignore it anymore. Lives have been taken and lives have been shattered by the immoral decay of the nation turned into violence in our most sacred places. Responsible defenders across America were compelled to do something about it. As the pages turned from the 20th to the 21st century, we began to hear the term, church security. At first, church security seemed a contradiction of terms to some. Enduring ridicule, lectures on passiveness, misrepresentation of scriptures (“turn the other cheek”) and cute little comments (“who would Jesus shoot”?), defenders continue to improve readiness. That endeavor is often met by arrogant mindsets that everything is fine; no need for any additional programs. Safety and security is essential. Intentional security is now accepted by most faith-based leaders in the country. But something is missing. As disparate efforts develop across the U.S., there are no standards, little agreement on what those standards should look like and even if they are needed. Of 350,00 – 400,000 congregations in the U.S., some growing percentage are recognizing the importance of intentional readiness and developing security programs. That is often done from scratch, led by one person or a handful of folks with different levels of personal experience, expertise or excitement. Think About it The Faith Based Security Network is dedicated to the safety and security of faith-based organizations by being an organized national network of the security operators and law enforcement professionals serving those organizations. Members come together in forum groups, on-line discussion events and subject matter presentations to learn from each other. It is not a group following any one or small assembly of opinions. It is a connected association, using collective acumen to get better at protection. If you are one of those responsible defenders working to keep your church or ministry safe, please get connected. Go to https://www.fbsnamerica.com/join-the-membership today to learn more about membership. We are better together, and we need you.

Trauma can be disturbing enough to cause one to remember life before, compared to life after — “it”.   A deadly force incident in a church is painful enough to do that. We don’t expect to see blood, hear gunshots, smell smoke or feel the concussion of explosion in a house of worship. Our church is our sanctuary. When evil invades it, that day marks the separation of life before and after for those who were there.   The wounded survivors from the horrific 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that left four innocent little girls dead will never forget it. The angry darkness of smoke replaced the bright futures of 11-year-old Denise McNair and 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley.   The entire town of Daingerfield Texas changed on Sunday morning June 22nd, 1980, when a killer invaded the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church. The atmosphere of worship was shattered when he yelled “This is War!” and began randomly shooting into the congregation. Before being stopped by men who carry the scars today (or are counted among those killed), he slew 5 people ranging in ages from 7 to 78-years-old. His surprise attack left Daingerfield residents asking not only why — but how.   How?   Think About it   In order for any criminal to commit a crime, regardless of the level of crime, it requires three things;   The attacker must have the intent to do wrong.   The attacker must have the capacity to do what he intends to do.   The attacker must have an opportunity to do it.   Of those three (intent, capacity and opportunity) potential victim(s) have no control over the intent or capacity of others to harm them.   No amount of mental health services and education is ever going to rid the world of the evil intent of mankind. No conglomeration of more restrictive laws is going to change every killer’s capacity. They will find a way.   Will education and laws help at all? To some degree, yes. But there is only one thing we truly have power over; the opportunity given to a bad actor.   Every time you serve your ministry in the capacity of protection, you are lessening the opportunity of trauma in people’s lives.   I am grateful for the defenders; uniformed and citizen, who protect every day.   Carl Chinn, President, FBSN