Blog – Page 23 – SemperVerus

Planning and Armed Congregants Top Church Security Measures

Around 4 in 5 US Protestant Pastors (81%) Say Their Church Has Some Type of Security Measure in Place When They Gather for Worship.

By Aaron Earls

Most churches have some type of security measures in place during worship services. Pastors point to intentional plans and armed church members more than other measures, but compared to three years ago, fewer say they have plans and more say they have gun-carrying congregants.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

Numerous fatal shootings have occurred at churches in recent years. In March 2023, an armed assailant killed six people at The Covenant School, a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. Shootings have also occurred at other places of worship like Jewish synagogues and Sikh temples.

[ Read articles in the SemperVerus category of Church Security ]

When asked about their protocols when they gather for worship, around 4 in 5 US Protestant pastors (81%) say their church has some type of security measure in place, according to a study from Lifeway Research. Still, more than 1 in 6 (17%) say they don’t use any of the seven potential measures included in the study, and 2% aren’t sure.

Self-Awareness Is Part of Situational Awareness

Whenever we get the chance, we remind you that the name SemperVerus is Latin for Stay True and its foundation is the Bible verse 1 Timothy 4:16 (NLT) — “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.”

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the subject of SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ]

In his article, Leadership and Self-Awareness…, Dr. James Scott, Jr., says, “Sin is humanity’s great problem, but a wholesale lack of self-awareness…is a leading contributor to the problems and troubles we create for ourselves. We hurtle through life more unconscious of our own selves, and the lives of others, than sharply aware and purposely alert.”

By semperverus
Posted on 08/15/202312/15/2024

FYSA: For Your Situational Awareness

The 5 life-changing success-generating components that SemperVerus stands for includes the element of being Aware: heightening your personal attentiveness to be alert to—and anticipate—dangerous potentialities and temptations, as well as edifying opportunities to take advantage of.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the subject of Situational Awareness ]

When writing a message—whether texting, emailing, etc.—that’s intended to inform recipients of pertinent facts or news important to their particular surroundings or plans, you may want to use the following helpful abbreviations at the start of your content to prominently set the expectation:

By semperverus
Posted on 08/05/202308/05/2023

Video: How to Manage a Stranger’s Approach and Maintain Self-Defense

You’re walking from your car in a parking lot or standing on a downtown sidewalk and you observe a stranger coming your way who appears determined to talk with you. Not knowing if his intentions are malicious or innocent, what should you do to protect yourself as he closes distance with you? Is he preparing to spring an attack on you? Does he have an accomplice coming up behind you?

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Why 21 Feet Is Not a ‘Safe’ Distance ]

In the TriggerTimeTV.com video below, self-defense trainer Craig Douglas of Shivworks offers a combination of three techniques to always use to properly and safely “manage unknown contacts” who encroach into your personal space when in public.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Simple Chart for Situational Awareness ]

The three skills encompass what, how, and where: