Attacks Force Churches to Boost Security-Guards not new at New Life

[RamboLiberal]

-----

Churches want to present an open and welcoming image, but in an era of mass-casualty shootings and terrorism threats, the violence at New Life highlights a new emphasis on security. Some of the nation's estimated 1,200 megachurches — places where more than 2,000 worshippers gather each week — have been quietly beefing up security in recent years, even using armed guards to protect the faithful.

-----

At Potter's House, a Dallas megachurch led by superstar pastor T.D. Jakes, a private security company employs a team of armed, unarmed, uniformed and plainclothes guards that keeps watch over crowds in the thousands. Under a new Texas law, all nonprofits must use licensed security guards, and the church hired Classic Security in response, said Sean Smith, who formerly headed the church's security detail and now works for the company.

For the past three years, Potter's House has hosted a church security conference, drawing more than 400 people earlier this year to sessions on surveillance, background checks and other issues. Although precautions can be costly, money spent on security can end up being far less than liability and lawsuit risks if no action is taken, the church says.

-----

The security plan at New Life Church may seem extraordinary. The church's volunteer security force is stocked with people with military or law enforcement experience, they carry radios and weapons, and there are evacuation plan calls for hustling worshippers into "secure zones" in the case of emergencies.

-----

The Fellowship of the Woodlands megachurch in Texas employs a former FBI agent as a full-time security director, overseeing volunteers and paid staff, said pastor Kerry Shook. Those who are armed in the congregation are police officers, he said.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeL1eqhelWeete0Tben9XKVyXbbQD8TESH3O0

Note the article also mentions that Jewish and Islamic places of worship also have security plans.

I can't fault them in this crazy world. But the sarcastic DU'er in me has to ask is this a new line of work for Blackwater?

[Solly Mack]

1. I was about to say - Blackwater goes to church

[Demeter]

2. Well, Perhaps If the Mega-Churches Split Into Small Family Community Groups

and treated everybody like welcome friends instead of sheep to be herded and sheared, they wouldn't have this problem.

When was the last time you ever heard of a Catholic parish or a Unitarian Congregation hosting a shootout?

[piedmont]

4. Well, the Amish school in PA couldn't get any smaller or friendlier...

and death still came to them.

[Demeter]

5. But Not From One of Their Own

[piedmont]

8. Are they any less dead? nt

[The Straight Story]

6. So true

And with all the hate posted against people who believe in God here, it is no wonder people target Christians of any form. All Christians are evil, believe in fairies, and want to kill and lord over you.

And yet, so many really don't want that. Many just want to be left alone to practice their own faith - but because some (just like some Islamic folks) are bad, we label all as bad.

I remember after 9/11 calls from the left to try and understand Islam and not label all who practice it as American hating bigots who want to blow up out malls. We wanted to avoid the hate of the many label just because a few who hated did wrong.

MOST Christians aren't out there hating and doing bad things, instead they are out there raising money for the homeless and kids - and doing good works for others. The few bad get the press, and some lap it up to foster hatred.

Check out http://www.usnpl.com - a list of all papers for each state, and read the local papers in small towns. Most Christians are out there doing positive things for those in need. But threads about them get little response.

[htuttle]

3. Soon, every church will have a tank outside of it, just as Jesus intended

[XboxWarrior]

7. Exactly.......

Guns-4-God.com right

[Thothmes]

9. A T-34 modification that I had not seen before..