Think About it... SOS.24; A Destination of Significance

Resources Think About it... SOS.24; A Destination of Significance
Share
Share

Faith Based Security Network

Apr 13, 2024

I have participated in many security events. I have had the honor of sharing the platform with some of the best presenters in our space.

Some years back, I envisioned an annual summit where faith-based security professionals could come from across the nation to learn things directly applicable to safety / security service in their churches, synagogues or other faith-based organizations.

A summit where every speaker had passionate, applicable concepts for faith-based security operations. I wanted many of the speakers I had got to know, to be there with me.

I envisioned an audience where only vetted security operators, faith-based leaders and first responders could hear more detailed information, shared freely due to the vetted nature of the audience.

Some successful event planners told me it would be professional suicide to have people “apply” to be admitted into an event. That the expenses of a nationwide summit, with high-level speakers, would require us to sell as many seats as possible. To have their application to the event be truly an application, pending the validity of their service, would cost too much in lost seats.

They were wrong. From July 25^th through July 27^th, the 6^th annual Security Operations Summit (SOS.24) is coming to Highlands Ranch, CO (a south-side suburb of Denver). We expect over 500 vetted participants from 40 states or more, to gather in what has become an annual pilgrimage for many.

Speakers this year will include;

Dave Grossman (nationally recognized author and speaker)
John Giduck (one of the nation’s leading authorities on the continued risk of foreign terrorism)
John Riley (the best presenter I’ve ever heard on real de-escalation techniques)
Bruce Alpe (Security Director of Houston’s, Lakewood Church)

And MANY others. We are adding more every week and already have 18 solidified.

Think About it

A pilgrimage is an inspired practice consisting of a prolonged journey, often undertaken by plane, train or automobile, toward a specific destination of significance.

The FBSN first developed the SOS as a “destination of significance.” Every summit has been exactly that. The pilgrimage happened on its own and continues to happen as long as we focus on the significance.

Every year we hear back from attendees that the SOS is the one event they will budget for next year. We are honored to be trusted with that remarkable standard.

Here is the link to read more about, or register for SOS.24 https://www.fbsnamerica.com/events/sos24

Comments

To view comments or leave a comment, login or sign up.

Related Content

Think About it -- Remembering Ron Allen

Death never comes at a good time. This last week, FBSN board member Ron Allen (Troy, Michigan) finished his race and went home. Ron was one of the best men I’ve ever known. I was reminded of something Ron wrote to our Board in 2023. It follows, as written by him. GOD'S CALL TO LEADERS. Morning Prayer Notes 8.24.2023. Ron Allen God will never call us to a work that we can fulfill in our own strength. It will always be bigger than we are. That forces us to rely on Him. When God puts people around us to help fulfill the vision that He has given, if we use them, God gets glory. If we don't use them, that means we don't trust God to fulfill His vision. (ownership of the vision then transfers to us and I don’t want to own God vision). Remember, Its God's vision, not ours. He may have given it to us to carry, shepherd and lead, but it's His vision. God will send resources / people to fulfill His vision. If we are uncomfortable using the resources He has sent, (“no, let me do that”) we limit what God can do with His own work. Our job as leaders, as people who are called by God to lead; Pray that God sends laborers and let them labor when they arrive. Love them and lead them in a godly manner. Teach them what God has taught you. Show them the vision so they can run with the portion God has given them. Trust that God will speak to them and give vision for their area of the work. Give them the latitude to hear from God and go with God, (while we are watching to encourage and correct) Discern when the enemy sends wolves to disrupt the work that God has called us to do. Clear out the wolves and get back to doing the work God has called us to do. If the wolves have inflicted wounds, believe God to heal the wounds and move on. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire without the smell of smoke (don’t let wounds linger) Think About it We are called into a work that none of us can complete or even perform well on our own. Ron Allen provided the guide for handling that work.

Lessons From the Farm (No. 1)

Having moved back to farm country (from where I continue to manage the Faith Based Security Network), there is also the reality of needed work to be done on the farm. Fortunately, there is not (yet) any cropland; the daily duties are centered around making sure the small cow herd is healthy and accounted for. It is rare that I can’t think of the applicability of some farm action to the realm of effective security operations. Such was the case this week when a neighbor called to see if I could help him out. Helping is just part of common rural hospitality. It’s called “neighboring.” When someone’s ox is in the ditch, you go help them. He owns no oxen, but he did have a few hundred acres of corn to get harvested in a narrow window of time. He needed to keep 3 semis continuously filled as drivers ran the harvested corn to the granaries. He had a 12-row combine working nonstop cutting the corn. The missing link was a man on a tractor to catch the freshly harvested corn out of the combine into a 750 bushel mobile grain cart, then transport that corn to the waiting semis. The inset picture shows the operation and equipment well. He set aside an hour to have one of his workers train me on the tractor and the mobile grain cart. After that I was all alone in a John Deere 8400, 4-wheel drive row-crop tractor. This wasn’t like driving Dad’s old 2-cylinder John Deeres 50 years ago. This $300,000 monster had a computerized cab more like a cockpit. At 30,000 pounds and 225 horsepower, it was bigger, more powerful and more expensive than any machine I’d ever operated. One hour of training. Think About it The great late Jeff Cooper said, “Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician” (another version quoted him as, “Owning a pistol doesn't make you a pistoleer any more than owning a piano makes you a pianist”). A few hours operating powerful machinery doesn’t make one a farmer either. Is your training commensurate with the tools and the needed actions? How much is a life worth? If you think an hour might be a little light for training on a monster tractor, how much is too light for your tools of protecting life?