Let’s remember that many attacks against the church have started in the parking lot. That means that we must be ready and prepared to deal with potential threats while also making sure we are focused on ministry.  Just like every church is different, satellite campuses of the same church can be unique. Despite their differences, the mission is the same.  It's very important for us to remember whether you have a church of 100 or 100,000 that the principles of church security still apply.

Proactive security in the parking lot comes down to three things.  Our teams must be engaging, evaluating and encouraging while greeting people in the parking lot.  Security team members in the parking lot must not be standoffish.  Sometimes we see church security teams that are discreet or hidden and they prefer to stand back and just watch.  What if we change that?

Engaging

If you think about your parking lot security, let’s ask a few questions. First, do...

As churches reopen, there will likely be a lot of people that want some “face time” with the pastor.  Some of them will be happy the church has re-opened – others will be angry that it was ever closed.  Many will have prayer requests or needs for family, jobs or health.  Others may want to challenge your pastor on a particular stand (or lack thereof) that your church has taken during the recent civil turmoil. Regardless of the motivation, your pastor will be getting more attention than ever in the weeks to come.

 Let’s start with the basics. Pastors are busy people! Every week they have to prepare sermons, counsel couples, make hospital visits, marry some people and speak at funerals for others. That happens before they stand in front of the congregation every Sunday – whether in person or online - to lead us in God’s word.

 But your pastor isn’t just the spiritual leader of your congregation, they are also the...