By Bill McKinnis
There
is a new ministry stirring in the arid high desert of Central Oregon, a
ministry with the unique purpose of serving God by protecting His Bride, The
Church.
Body
Armor Ministries’ purpose is to go into churches that see the need for security
and help them recruit a team of people from their own congregation to serve as
sheepdogs (protectors) for their own body.
We believe that there are always a few people in every church that are wired to be sheepdogs. They often, but not always, find jobs in the military, fire protection services, law enforcement, security, etc, because they are hard wired by God for that very purpose. There is something in them, an instinct, to stand between the wolves and the sheep. Our purpose is to help the church leadership identify those people and facilitate getting them trained.
When
a church selects a group of people to be sheepdogs we begin a process that
includes: 1. A first-aid instructor teaches and certifies first aid/ CPR to the
security team, children and youth group leaders. 2. A representative from the
local fire department will walk through the church building with a ministry
consultant to examine smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, establishing
escape routes and staging areas. 3. All
the information is written in an Emergency Response Plan that is printed and
made available to all church leadership.
Depending
on the level of security the leadership desires, Body Armor Ministries will
train or facilitate training for less than lethal, open hand or firearms
defensive tactics. Body Armor will also give tips to the security team on ways
to help the congregation members inexpensively secure their homes.
Body Armor Ministries Services include:
Physical
Protection (i.e.… executive protection)
Emergency
Preparedness
First
Aid/CPR Instruction
Threat
and Risk Assessment
Background
Investigations (recommended for children and youth group leaders)
Security
Team Training
Firearms
Instruction
Instruction
in Less Than Lethal Devices
Unarmed
Close Quarters Defense
Spatial
Awareness and Self Defense (recommended for all women)
Purchasing
of First Aid and Protection Equipment
Home
Security Consulting
Wilderness
Survival Skills
When
possible all training is done with Christian organizations. Whether working
hands on, as an advisor or as a facilitator, the goal of Body Armor Ministries
is to help the Body of Christ be prepared to serve its members and the
community in any emergency.
There is nothing glamorous about being a sheep dog. We serve and we look for other people with a heart to serve. That’s what sheep dogs do, they watch for the wolf and serve the sheep.
We
are warned that in the last days dangerous times will be upon us. They are
here.
There
have been 17 major church shootings in the United States since 1998
according to Clint Van Zandt. He
says: “Churches face more crimes than the high-profile shootings. They are
often the targets of robberies, arson and vandalism. Churches are a ripe
target," said Van Zandt, a former FBI agent who
now analyzes crime for NBC. “They keep regular schedules, often posted on Web
sites or even signs just outside the church door and many are empty throughout
the week. Also, churches rarely have security alarms or cameras.
Safety
measures will feel strange to churches at first,” says Van Zandt.
"It's counterintuitive to screen people out when the whole point is to let
people in but with training and the right frame of mind, churches can become
secure. You have to plan for the worst and pray for the best," Van Zandt says.
“Churches
have an obligation to keep their members safe,” said Jeff Hawkins, who offers
training seminars for churches. “The first two steps to keeping a safe house of
worship is changing the ‘it-won't-happen-to-me’ mindset and then training staff
members,” he says. “Churches should also invest in defibrillators and CPR
training as additional safety measures.”
Body
Armor Ministries is here to serve in any way we can. We travel upon request and
are in the process of making a video about increasing security for churches.
There is good material out there that will help; it does not have to be ours.
Get it, and keep the church body safe. If we can help, call us or visit our
website.
Bill
McKinnis writes from Central Oregon. Body Armor
Ministries (541) 447-3228 or (541) 325-2932 http://www.bodyarmorministries.org