GUN LAWS IN TEXAS If no sign is posted – everybody with permit can carry

1. GUN LAWS IN TEXAS If no sign is posted – everybody with permit can carry If sign IS posted – NOBODY can carry NOBODY who has a CHL can serve on the Eyes and Ears Team – that would make you a security guard, and you do not have the license for that

2. The children must be protected • Male and female pedophiles • (the 150-53 rule)

3. PROTECTING THE PASTOR Pastoring can be fatal! Dr. Al Meredith (Wedgwood Baptist Church – Ft. Worth, TX) "...if I were Satan, and if I were real, and I wanted to deliver a death knell to the kingdom of God, I would target this church.”

4. PROTECTING THE PASTOR Acts 9 says… Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded those who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ… When many days had passed, theyplotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,lowering him in a basket…” ACTS 23:12 A group of people formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul…

5. PASTORAL PROTECTION Assign someone to be with the pastor when at church That includes someone on the front row, responsible to deal with anyone that approaches the minister – and also with him during the invitation Putting together your Eyes and Ears Team

6. 1- No one needs to know you’re doing this 2- Select the leader Notthe pastor 3- Leader chooses others selects 1 or 2 he can trust 4- Build your team 5- Background checks

7. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR TEAM MEMBERS… • Established in church (no new converts) • A good greeter? • The EE member MUST be able to do both • Servant’s heart? • Physically fit?

8. WHAT TO LOOK FOR… • too aggressive? • too shy • short tempered? • what skills do they have to offer? • is he a police “wanna-be”?

9. Try to start with 2 teams so they can rotate on a regular basis (to prevent burnout) • Purchase radios that have ear pieces

10. NEXT… 1- As a team, talk about the spiritual side of church safety • “…unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stay awake in vain…” (Psalms) • Elisha… • Remember – this is a MINISTRY!

11. NEXT… 2- Practice… Practice… Practice.

12. Meet with police officers who come to your church and find out if… • Carrying a gun • Solicit advice • Put in charge of E.E. Team? • Hire off-duty police?

13. Before any meeting at the church, you must… • SWEEP • Over 130 dead bodies have been found on church property • SHAKE • Check the doors that lead outside and make sure they are closed

14. The 7 Lines of Defense 1- Sunday School Rooms 2- Detached Buildings 3- Church Offices When Occupied 4- Church Building When Unoccupied 5- Parking Lot 6- Foyer 7- Sanctuary

15. WATCHING & LISTENING

16. 1- Protecting Sunday School Rooms LINES OF DEFENSE • STATION… - Eyes and Ears team members strategically - emphasis on children’s classes • SPEAK… - With ANYONE near any room that you do NOT know (especially kid’s rooms)

17. 2- DETACHED BUILDINGSBuildings not connected to the main church building- STATION- SWEEP BEFORE AND AFTER

18. 3- CHURCH OFFICES DURING THE WEEK (when occupied) LINES OF DEFENSE

19. Jonesboro, Arkansas • Arlington,Tx Pastor Clint Dobson

20. When a secretary is working alone at the church • Try NOT to have an open- door policy. • The building should be locked. • Control access to the church by electronic lock (and video surveillance if possible)

21. An intercom system between the secretary’s office and the pastor’s office. • Allows the secretary to contact the pastor if a problem is developing.

22. Install a panic button in the church office. • The button should activate an alarm in other parts of the building that summons help. • Program 911 into the phone (speed dial)

23. Do NOT keep large amounts of cash at the church

24. Nevertell anyone you are alone…

25. Employees should have parking spaces as close to the door as possible. • Maintain adequate lighting around the church and in the parking lot…

26. Defending Yourself While At Church

27. People will come to a church for help that won’t go anywhere else • When they come, they are “bummed out.” • When they are turned down for help, they are even more “bummed out.” • In that “bummed out” state, they may do something violent…

28. If you’re counting on “self-defense,” you may be in trouble… • Self-Defense means the attacker got too close… • Self-Defense usually only works IF you’ve been trained, and you regularly practice… • MY ADVICE….

30. Groups to Monitor • Substance Abuse Groups • Sex Addicts Support Groups

31. 4- CHURCH BUILDING WHEN UNOCCUPIED • Contact local police department and ask for the Crime Prevention Officer… • Ask him/her to come to your church and conduct a Security Survey (it is free!)

32. Your Sound System • The Sound System is a likely piece of property to be stolen • Secure it as best as you can • Preferably have the Sound System behind closed doors – a “sound room” • Make it “out of sight”

33. Last 3 Lines of Defense 5- Parking Lot 6- Foyer 7- Sanctuary

34. 5- PARKING LOT TROUBLE can possibly be detected and deterred here FIRST LINE of DEFENSE if they are coming inside.

35. PARKING LOT • The number of EE Team members in the parking lot depends on the size of your lot… • Equipped with Radios

36. PARKING LOT • Get in the parking lot as they arrive – stay in the parking lot until church is over • VISIBILITY is important… • Wander around

37. NO hesitancy in calling 911 at the sight of anything that alarms you. • You do NOT have to figure out WHY someone is in the parking lot…Let the police do that

38. FOYER (point of entry)

39. FOYER (place of entry) • EE TEAM actions as people enter • Watching and Listening • Stationed by entry doors • Be as observant as possible

40. FOYER (place of entry) • Take note of suspicious people • Person carrying large bags, backpacks, etc

41. SUSPICIOUS • Physical Appearance • Dressed appropriately for the weather • Coat in summer? • Trench coat & sunglasses • Hair, facial expression? • Hands in pockets?

42. Two or more people are grouped together, appearing not to be engaged in the church service, but looking at the surroundings. • They may be “casing” your church

43. AFTER SERVICE BEGINS… • No one comes in without assistance of EE Member • Consider a lock that can make ENTRY impossible without assistance from EE team/greeter • EE Member stay in foyer throughout service

44. SANCTUARY

45. EYES and EARS TEAM • Seat yourself strategically …where you can view a designated section of the sanctuary • An EE Member near each entrance

47. Step in front of anyone that approaches the stage Preacher: if you intend to have someone approach you while preaching, tell your team

48. IN SANCTUARY • Watch, watch, watch!!! • Note anyone that’s “on edge,” fidgety, overly nervous • Talkative

49. IN THE SANCTUARY • An individual who is sweating profusely, not engaged in the service, or appears uneasy

50. RESPONDING (in sanctuary) • Approach disruptive person • Gently say: • Could I talk to you out in the foyer?