Interview with Matt Witte, Church Safety Consultant
SemperVerus interviewed Matt Witte, Church Safety Consultant at Blue Arrow Consultants, LLC, which believes that individuals, church security teams, and businesses utilizing threat assessment knowledge to make a location more secure—and to prepare people for what dangers may occur—can lessen the need for force, reduce the chance of physical harm, and minimize liability.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Tactical Training for Individuals and Church Security Teams to Thwart Active Violence Incidents (Part 1) ]
Why is it important for a church to organize a safety/security team?
It’s important for the church to have a safety/security team because even back in the days when the disciples were with Jesus they had the mindset of protection among themselves. They may not have dealt with the same threats that we do today, but none-the-less it’s our duty as church members to protect our flock.
Along with that, no matter the size of your church, it’s crucial to have some kind of medical response team ready to jump in when the need arises. The devil is always at work to disrupt or destroy where people gather to worship Jesus. We need to be ready for whatever he plans to use against us.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]
What are some ways to respond to church leaders who are reticent about establishing such a team?
There are many people who are against safety/security teams within the church, especially when the discussion turns to concealed carrying firearms on church property. The way I like to approach this subject is simple: the Lord calls each and every one of us to an area of ministry. When we talk about a safety/security team, we’re talking about another ministry within the church. This ministry is no different than your greeters or the fine people that serve in kids ministry. This is a way to get like-minded people together to form a group that’s centered around the church.
Another way to respond to those who have reservations about establishing such a team is to explain what the team stands for. A safety team would handle three things:
- Medical Awareness
- Threat Awareness and
- Spiritual Awareness.
We never know when the Lord will place something on a person’s heart. A great example of this is someone driving by your church on a Sunday and feels the pull to come inside. This person may have never entered a church in their life; not knowing what church is about, they enter during the middle of service. The safety/security team is the first to greet them and establish a line of communication. In my experience, these individuals love to talk and safety teams are trained to listen.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]
What’s the difference between naming the team “safety” or “security”?
This is a great question and one that comes up often. At the end of the day either word could be used to describe the team, however the two words can bring up different emotions in certain individuals. “Safety” can be more of a comforting word, as “Security” can bring on anxiety and possibly even anger.
Take for example a young woman who attends your church on the anniversary of her child’s death. She didn’t come that day to be taught another Bible passage. No, she came for support and love. If someone where to say to this young woman, “Wait for a moment while I get our security team to talk to you,” she may wonder if she’s in trouble for coming to church broken. But if someone says, “Let me get a member of our safety team,” this brings along a sense of relief.
Security can also mean to a lot of people that the team is only there to be bodyguards, when in reality they’re so much more and wear many hats. I believe it’s better practice to call your team a safety team rather than security.
[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SPIRITUAL FITNESS ]
Should the medical team be a separate team from the safety/security team or should they be one?
I’m a firm believer that, as a whole, the team is one. Each member of the safety team should be medically trained, even on the basic level of CPR/First Aid. In some larger churches it may be worthwhile having a RRT (Rapid Response Team) in place. This group would consist of individuals that hold higher credentials in the medical field. They should still be underneath the umbrella that is safety.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Directory of Medical Kit Resources ]
What are the first several steps in starting and organizing a church safety/security team?
Contact us at BlueArrowConsultantsLLC.com. We at Blue Arrow want to help teams get started.
What are best practices in recruiting people to join the team?
Word-of-mouth is a great way to recruit team members. I’ve found that people specifically are more inclined to serve when they’re talked to face-to-face. And if you’re looking for a specific type of person, like medical for example, a quick slide in the front of church asking for help can be extremely productive.
What is a reasonable budget for a team?
This is tough to say as it’s going to be different for every church. One church could make things happen on a $1,000 annual budget, while others will need $5,000 or more. It all depends on church size, number of team members, and what training needs to be completed.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Church Security/Safety Equipment ]
What equipment do you recommend a team needs to properly perform its duties?
Radios are number one! You need to be able to communicate quickly with each other. And depending on the level of training will determine the medical equipment that should be on hand. AED’s and first aid kits are good places to start.
Other than those, the biggest equipment you’ll use is your team; training them up in such a way will be the best tool you can have.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security: Radio Communications Best Practices ]
What’s expected of team members and what training is required for team members to be competent in their roles?
The biggest expectation of team members is to show up! Be where you’re assigned to be at the appropriate time. Each member is expected to be alert and aware of his or her surroundings at all times. We’ve always trained our team members to be greeters, not security guards. Safety team members are not statues or “that guy” who’s always leaning against the wall.
As for training, it all depends on the budget and sustainability of team members.
- All team members should be CPR/First Aid Certified. These are two year certifications and should always be up to date.
- Team members who conceal carry should be training a minimum of twice a year together as a team.
- Area conferences and joining with other churches is a great way to cross-train your team.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Tactical Training for Individuals and Church Security Teams to Thwart Active Violence Incidents (Part 2) ]
What are some of the policies and written procedures that a team director should create?
Policies and procedures are extremely important to the structure of the team and church. Writing down what’s expected of each role of the team is a great way to start. Having this written down is not only good for training, but can add uniformity to the team.
Things like evacuation maps and routes should be played out in this document. Having all church policies for how to work with children is crucial.
In general, as bad as it sounds, sit down and think about anything bad that could happen during a church event and write down how it should be handled, or what proactive things need to be done to prevent it.
Now this does not have to start from scratch. Blue Arrow is ready and willing to help write and configure a document specific for your church.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Directory: Informative Free Email Newsletters From a Variety of Sources ]
What type of insurance is necessary for a church to have to adequately meet the needs of the safety/security team? And do you recommend particular companies?
It’s important that the church’s insurance company knows that you have a safety team, especially if there are members who conceal carry. Some states (Michigan being one of them) have a Good Samaritan law that will help with anyone offering medical help to those in need. It’s typically of little cost to an insurance plan to add a clause about active violence to your plan. This is typically seen as not very likely and costs little to add.
As for those who conceal carry on church property or in general, it would be in your best interest to have some kind of added insurance for yourself. I know that some insurance companies can offer certain group rates to safety teams.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense Legal Insurance Options ]
What are the services that Blue Arrow Consultants, LLC provides churches? And how can a church contact you?
Blue Arrow is ready and willing to help you start a safety team or provide support to improve a team that’s already established. Every church will come with its own needs. Blue Arrow is able to help customize a plan that’s perfect for you. Here are a few of the areas in which we can assist.
- Recruiting Assistance
- Budget Assistance
- Policy and Procedures
- Scheduling
- Setting up CPR/AED/First Aid Training
- Equipment
- Administration Items
- Spiritual Training (what to do when the Holy Spirit brings someone new into church)
- On Site Training (if needed)
- Threat Assessments
- Active Violence training
I can be contacted directly at matt.bluearrowconsultants@gmail.com or at 616.366.8731.
[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of CHURCH SECURITY ]
BIO: Matt Witte has extensive experience forming and managing a safety team for a mega church, as well as building a safety team from the ground up for a startup church. Matt has a love for the church and a love to spread the word of Jesus Christ. He also has the drive and heart to protect. With his practice in running the teams, and his background in management, he is ready to help every church protect their flock and safely spread the love of Jesus. He lives in West Michigan with his wife and three children.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Book Review: Defending the Flock ]
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