Church Security at Temporary Rental Property: An Interview with Steven Jansen
A church plant is defined as the process of starting a new, local gathering of Christian believers for corporate worship and group edification. Often church plants are sponsored by established churches as a way of reaching people outside of their immediate areas. Church plants usually begin holding weekly services in some type of rental location with the objective of eventually constructing and owning their own facility. The practices of church security in rented space can vary from those in owned property. SemperVerus interviewed Steven Jansen, the leader of a church safety team at a church plant in Michigan.
Why does your church believe it’s important to have a security/safety team?
Our church safety team exists to ensure a safe and secure environment in which our congregation and guests have an opportunity to worship our Lord.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]
What training do you see as being important for team members?
The Active Violence Incidents training Del Kostanko of Blue Arrow Consultants recently did for us (and has in some form for the last three years) is one of the most important training we do. I believe in his training so much that I would say anyone who has a CPL (Concealed Pistol License) should take his class! * Anyone who has a CPL on our team is also required to go to a group shoot with all of us each year.
Another training that we do is CPR/AED training. We have a meeting every year to go over what we’re supposed to be doing, how to do what we’re supposed to be doing, and go over any changes and improvements we can make.
We have multiple medical first responders who have their own required training outside of church for their state emergency medical license and we have a couple guys involved in CPL classes who have separate training for that as well.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Tactical Training for Individuals and Church Security Teams to Thwart Active Violence Incidents (Part 2) ]
How do you qualify your volunteers for team membership?
In order to be a team member, everyone has to be a church member in good standing, take a child protection class, pass a background check, be interviewed by the safety team leader and pass that, then be approved by church administration. If someone wants to carry a concealed firearm, they have to pass all of the previously mentioned items, have their CPL, and be approved by the church council to carry on the premises.
With all that being said, our church is a new church plant. We’re almost a year old. We started with some people who were members, but a majority of our team were not members of our sponsoring church when they started volunteering. We had decided that the first year we would let someone join who wasn’t a member, as long as they agreed to become a member within a year and passed all the other requirements.
[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of CHURCH SECURITY ]
What do you see as basic equipment for a church security team?
Two-way radios, medical bags with all your basic medical supplies, AED, and your own pistol.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security: Radio Communications Best Practices ]
Your church’s location is a temporary rental property. How is conducting security at church services and events unique to your situation compared with a permanent church building? What are the pluses and minuses?
It can be very challenging. When we first started looking over this building it became obvious there was stuff we would change around if we owned the building. For example, something as simple as having a dedicated “safety office” where we have extra radios and the team schedule would be great to have.
Our location is a wedding venue so it’s a really cool spot, but I wish we could add more locks around the property and upgrade some of the gates. It’s also an old lumber yard which has multiple buildings that have been added on to. There are lots of areas to think about in regards to safety.
One of the biggest positives about this location is it keeps all of us on our toes. Because of the layout of the buildings we can’t become complacent in our safety so we have to stay fully engaged in what we’re doing.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Protection Book Review: Just 2 Seconds ]
What advice would you give to other security team leaders at churches that rent facilities?
Do the best you can. We can’t control everything. If the owner of the facility doesn’t want to change something, keep your head up and figure out how to make the most out of the situation.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Interview with Kevin Robertson, Director of Security at Saddleback Church ]
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
We started with six people on our team. In ten months we’re up to 20+ people. If you’re thinking of starting a team, DO IT! Once the congregation sees the importance of a safety team they’ll support it and maybe even join in with you!
[ Get the SemperVerus booklet, The Case for Biblical Self-Defense ]
BIO: I’m Steven R. Jansen. I love Jesus, my wife, my five children and her three children. I’ve been a member of our church for six years and was part of the launch team for the church plant where we now attend. I’m a retired fire fighter and an active MFR (medical first responder). I own a collision repair facility in Dutton, MI. In my spare time, I love to spend time out at the lake with my family, skiing and wakeboarding, and in the winter we like to snowboard.
Contact Del Kostanko online at BlueArrowConsultantsLLC.com, on Facebook, or by calling 517-234-1119 or 1-877-TACTIXX.
[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of CHURCH SECURITY ]
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