Church Safety as a Ministry
When churches contact me for consultation on building a church safety team I usually ask them what the ultimate goal for their team is. The standard reply to this is that they just want their people to feel safe. This a noble and well intentioned goal, but there is more to a church safety team than just providing armed security for the congregation. Church safety teams are a unique breeding ground for a ministry to some unreached populations in most churches.
Men
Many churches have dedicated men’s ministries. Many do not. God gave men an inherent instinct to be protective. Many men that I know and am friends with struggle to get involved with church because the singing, teaching, laying hands on vibe just doesn’t speak to their soul. They either go to church out of pure faithfulness to God, but get nothing out of it; or because their wife makes them.
Men also crave fellowship with other men. There are studies galore touting a major cause of male depression is loneliness and no sense of belonging. While church itself may seem like a solution to this, what about the aforementioned men who just don’t feel like church is their jam?
A church safety team, and the associated training builds upon men’s desire to be protectors, facilitates a means of becoming involved in church in a way that speaks to some men’s hearts better than worship music, and creates an inherent community for those men to belong to. Isn’t that what a ministry is all about?
Veterans and First Responders
Talk about a population that needs community and spiritual fuel. As a veteran and first responder I can talk directly from my own heart on this issue. Veteran’s, specifically combat veterans and those deployed to various combat zones and third world countries; and first responders have beared witness to some of the worst that humanity has to offer. First responders get the mental wrath of seeing it on a regular basis! This view of the poorest state of humanity often leads those involved to develop a tremendously pessimistic attitude toward God and anything that claims to be “good”.
Veterans who have separated or retired from service often develop a sense of isolation when they leave the military. They go from a deep sense of direction, mission, and brotherhood to being virtually alone and aimless in the world. If they don’t become involved in a mission or a brotherhood on the outside depression becomes a real issue. This is a big part of why there are 22 veteran suicides a day.
These groups of people (men and women) have priceless training and experience that can take your church safety to another level of preparedness. Tap into these groups within your congregation. A church safety team will get them involved with the church, give them the opportunity to see some good in humanity through the works of the church, provide them with a mission, and most importantly imbed them into a new brotherhood. All of which is what a ministry is supposed to be.
Conclusion
If your church doesn’t already have a men’s ministry or a veteran/first responder ministry this is your chance to “kill two birds with one stone”. A church safety team is a tailormade ministry to these groups while building upon your church congregation’s need and desire for a safe place to worship.
