CHURCH SECURITY & THE WATCHMAN’S ROLE STEVEN PADIN

“…tarry ye here and watch with me.” 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

WALKED IN 10 MINUTES LATE – WITH COAT ON BACKWARDS Fred Winters Nameless Sedlacek came in 10 minutes late Coat was on backwards First Baptist Church Maryville, Illinois Shot and killed Fred Winters 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.

They were conscious of threats against them, and took precautions. 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? Use of force 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!

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 Assam Dec 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) * chooses others, or * accepts nominations 3- Conduct background checks 4- Leader selects 1 or 2 as a kind of “lieutenant” 5- Initiate interview process

EE TEAM meets and forms a “security policy” NEXT… EE TEAM meets and forms a “security policy” for the church

EE TEAM meets and practices 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

be detected and deterred here PARKING LOT TROUBLE can possibly be detected and deterred here FIRST LINE of DEFENSE

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.

…except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but 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.”

Joshua and the people of Gibeon Your weapons: 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