Is The Violence Getting Worse

The murder of 26 and the wounding of 20 more in a small town church in Texas has caused me to reflect on the increase in violence in and around houses of worship in recent years. I have to ask the question, is the violence getting worse?

I believe that we are living in the last days and that the violence is getting worse and will continue to get worse.  Not just in the churches but in society as a whole.  There are more murders, domestic violence, suicides, drive-by shootings and, gang violence, than ever before. Jesus predicted that this would happen in the last days.  In Mark Chapter 13 verses 12 & 13 we read, And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.  And you will be hated by all for my name's sake.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved (NKJV).

The violence against Christians and churches is getting worse.  We as Christians must recognize this fact and be more aware than ever before.  The days of the church being a sacred sanctuary have passed.  Christians must understand that the violence that has plagued the world since Cain killed Able has now entered the sanctuary. What church members must do now is prepare.

There is a Biblical basis for ensuring that your sanctuary is secure. In 1 Chronicles there were Gate Keepers that guarded the entrances to the Temple.  In Nehemiah there was a guard posted day and night.  In Matthew Christ told us to be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. We must be vigilant as the violence gets worse.

Make sure that your people are aware of their surroundings and that everyone knows what to do if violence comes to your church.  Just a little preparation can save many lives.

Run, Hide, Fight

With all of the violence in our society today the church is no longer a safe haven from the world.  Violence has made its way into the sanctuary. We need to hope for the best but be prepared for worst. We should also ensure that we have properly trained people in our congregation on how to handle a violent situation. When there is an active shooter, or a disruptive person, does the congregation know what to do? That's where the run, hide, fight philosophy comes into play.

When an incident begins a decision has to be made quickly.  Most people would say run away as fast as you can.  That's great if it is safe to do so. In the heat of the situation you have to make a decision in an instant. Is it safe to run, if so run away as fast as you can.  If it's not safe to run then do I hide? Yes, hide if you can safely do so. If you are inside the sanctuary you may be able to take cover under the pews or chairs. If there is an active shooter this may not be safe either.  If you are in the education or classroom building then you may be able to shelter-in-place in a classroom or a utility closet.  If you can hide then do so and stay put until help arrives.  Hopefully law enforcement.

Your last resort should be to fight.  There may be a situation where you will have no other recourse but to defend yourself and others.  If you have to fight then fight with everything that you have in you. Use whatever you can find as a weapon and fight. This is a last resort. If you can run or hide that would be the best but if not then fight.

I know that no one wants to think about these kinds of things happening in the church but in today's world you have to be prepared. Make sure that all of your ushers, greeters, teachers, pastors, and volunteers are aware of how to respond. If a situation does occur at least there will be people that will know what to do.

Violence In The Sanctuary

A friend of mine forwarded me a link to an article about violence in the sanctuary in a church near Lansing, Michigan.  In November of 2008, a group called Bash Back, dressed in militant garb staged a loud protest outside the church in the parking lot.  This was a distraction to lure church security out of the sanctuary so that the group could take over the service.  Other members of the group, who were dressed in plain clothes, had entered the sanctuary and took over the service.  Some took over the platform. A female couple began kissing near the stage while others began shouting slurs like "Jesus was a homosexual", and "It's OK to be gay".

These types of groups have been described as "Gay Nazis".  Their focus is to create havoc and target churches that are against homosexual behavior and gay marriage.  The group said that they targeted this particular church because of their well known Christian views on homosexuality.

The Allied Defense Fund filed suit against this group on behalf of the church to stop Bash Back and other activist from invading churches in the future.  The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan has entered a judgement against Bash Back and the case has concluded.  The Court held that no one can "by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injure, intimidate or interfere or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise their First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.

Christians won this battle but the war is no over.  Churches need to be prepared for this type of action against Christianity and religion in the near future.  This type of violent behavior will continue.  These militant anti-Christian, pro homosexual groups have and always will make headlines by creating havoc in our churches.  Something to think about.

Trademark Infringement of Royal Rangers Logo

A recent court decision awarded the Assemblies of God/Gospel Publishing.com 6.1 million dollars for trademark infringement for illegally using the Royal Rangers logo to sell badges, t-shirts and backpacks.  A couple in California were found guilty of using the logo and the Royal Ranger name to sell products with the name and the logo that were not authorized by the Assemblies of God.  They were also found guilty of using the Royal Ranger name in domain sites used to sell the products. The court ruled that the Royal Ranger name and logo are considered intellectual property of the Assemblies of God and can not be used without permission.  

This brings to the fore front all of those churches out there that use the Royal Ranger program without chartering, which gives that church the right to use the logo.  It also might concern the churches, districts and groups that use the logo and name to sell t-shirts, hats, backpacks and other items that are not chartered.  Any way you slice it, it is illegal to use the name or logo without permission.  This court decision could open the door to more suites like this one.  

Churches have often felt safe when taking liberties with logos, music, Vacation Bible School Curriculum, Sunday School Materials, etc.  What difference does in make if we use the lyrics of a popular song in our advertising or promotional materials?  No one will ever find out anyway. Maybe, maybe not.  In this day and age of electronic tracking, you might want to re-think your approach.  Using an illegal copy of software on the church computers or powerpoint slides of lyrics for praise and worship on Sunday mornings.  Either way it is illegal.  Think about it.

Churches Are Fast Becoming Targets For Cyber Crime

I read in the last few days about a Catholic Diocese in Des Moines, Iowa that lost $680,000 when hackers hacked into their church computer system and took over their accounts.  The theives drained the church's accounts in no time and the church was powerless to do anything about it.  These crime gangs, many located in Eastern Europe, target small towns, community banks and civic organizations which often lack high-tech defenses.

What kind of cyber security does your church computer system have?  Does the "IT Guy" really know what he is doing?  Do you know what the "IT Guy" is doing?

Most of the time churches accept help from volunteers for almost everything, including cyber security.  If you haven't done so already, you really need to have your system checked by a professional.  You also need to ensure that the basics like virus protections, are up to date.  In the long run it may be cheaper to actually pay a professional than to rely on a volunteer.

Can The Church Be Held Liable For Hiring A Rapist?

Can the Church be held liable if a staff member commits a crime against a church member or their family?  Yes it can if it can be proven that the church was negligent in it's hiring of the staff member of if the church should have known about the staff members past.  In a case like this one, it may not matter if the church knew or should have known.  The crime is so horrendous that a jury may sympathize with the victim anyway.  In a civil case a jury can find anyway they want to and if they feel that the church was negligent in it's hiring of the suspect or should have done a better job of checking out the suspects background then the plaintiff will likely win the suit.  

A complete Volunteer and staff screening program is vital in today's world. You must do a complete background check along with interviews and reference checks. This includes contacting people not included on the application listed as references. Most people will list friends or family members that they know will give them a good reference. Review the application thoroughly and look for previous employers and prior churches attended. Contact the previous employers and the pastor of the prior church. You will amazed at what kind of information that you can get from these contacts. Look for gaps in employment and gaps in church attendance. Ask about these gaps during the interview. Gage the responses and look for deceptive behavior and body language. People get uncomfortable when questioned about these things and a lie will reveal itself in their speech pattern or the way that the applicant sits in their chair. Think about these tips as you read the article below and as always, if you need more information please visit my website at www.trinityriskmanagment.com. 

Rape victim's parents suing church

Updated: Thursday, 02 Jun 2011, 5:56 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 02 Jun 2011, 5:56 PM CDT

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) - The parents of a 14-year-old rape victim have filed suit against a Taylor church, alleging the pastor and other church members opened the door for the crime to happen.

Jeremy James, 29, a musical minister at the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, was convicted in April for aggravated sexual assault of the girl who was a member of the church choir.

He is now facing 15 years in prison, but the girl’s family think the church should also be held accountable.

“The church has some liabilities for allowing him to take girls over and have sleepovers,” said the family’s attorney, Kevin Madison.

The rape occurred on July 9 when the victim was invited over to James’ home for a sleepover with other girls from the church, including James’ two daughters.

But Madison also said the church staff's knowledge of James reputation also makes them liable.

“The knowledge we petitioned is his history of relations with woman and also girls," he said.

Pastor Tony Sorrells said that was knowledge he did not have when he hired him.

The suit alleges James had a history of questionable relationships which should have raised red flags before he was hired to head the church’s musical productions.

“I have never heard of anything inappropriate with him in that nature,” said Sorrells who re-hired James just months after he left the church following a verbal altercation with another female.

“There was never any proof or evidence of wrongdoing,” said Sorrells, who claimed troublesome past incidents were only brought to his attention after the 14-year-old was assaulted.

“The church has knowledge and if they didn’t, they should have,” said Madison. “This is the small town of Taylor.”

Sorrells said James was popular among the congregation.

“It has been difficult for the church because a lot of people liked him, but justice has been served," Sorrells said.

Embezzlement From The Church? It Does Happen!

A Hammond, Indiana Church Treasurer was arrested recently for embezzling $17,000 from a Baptist Church's checking account.  She stole the money over a period of 2 years without being caught.  She says that she used the money to pay bills and to pay her son's college tuition.  

How can this happen?  A trusted member of the church that was the church secretary prior to becoming the treasurer. How could she do this?  The checks and balances that were in place were not being followed.  You see, someone trusted her to make the right decisions. Well the problem is that she is human and when she felt the pressure of financial need, she made a decision that would ultimately affect the rest of her life.  

Pastors and Board Members trust the people that work around them and volunteer in the ministry. Most of the time they think that these are Christians so they won't fall prey to worldly pressures.  That type of thinking is wrong in today's world and economy.  People will do things that no one ever thought that they would when confronted with the pressures of life.  I have interviewed over a thousand subjects for theft in my career and all of them were trusted and no one ever thought that they would do what they did.

Trust but verify.  Ensure that you have the checks and balances in place to keep this type of theft from happening and follow them.  Always have two people involved when it comes to the church's finances.  Never allow a human being the freedom to control finances by themselves. They may succumb to temptation when they see no other way out.