"Security for Faith-Based Organizations Seminar" at greater Cincinnati's Creation Museum

By Chad D. Baus

Concerns over security at places of worship are increasing in the wake of massacre after massacre in "no-guns" (victim disarmament) zones across the country. With an increasing demand for information about what is needed to adequately prepare for the threat has come increased opportunities for the type of training necessary to more adequately prepare.

One such opportunity is being offered by Buckeye Firearms Association this fall, when Lt. Col. Dave Grossman comes to Ohio to deliver his intense, one-day mind training workshop "The Bulletproof Mind: Tactical Mindset for Armed Citizens". Buckeye Firearms Association is encouraging CHL-holders, members of law enforcement, church and school security leaders (mature teen or adult family members also welcome) from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to attend.

After having written several articles recently on the need for attention to the problem of defenseless places of worship in Ohio, and as a person who believes one can never have too much training, I was encouraged to have been contacted by Jeff Hawkins, Director of Security at the Creation Museum located just outside of Cincinnati.

Designed by a former Universal Studios exhibit director, the Creation Museum is a state-of-the-art, 65,000 square foot museum that brings the pages of the Bible to life by presenting a “walk through history.” After reading my article "New Life Church Pastor Brady Boyd speaks out on church security preparedness", Mr Hawkins contacted me to let me know about a seminar he conducts on the museum campus, entitled “Security for Faith-Based Organizations.”

Faith-based organizations have traditionally lacked the security measures and emergency preparedness planning that businesses and other secular groups have put into place. Indeed, many of these organizations are reluctant to discuss whether or not they are aware of ever having been targeted and what, if any, active security preparations they have put in place (or decided against).

"This issue that we face," Hawkins told me, "with rapidly escalating violent confrontations is one most [faith-based] organizations just refuse to address because the answer is never easy or cheap."

In the wake of having had to endure media criticism over a decision to provide armed security at the Museum ("Why would a Christian ministry feel compelled to defend itself, and from what?", the Cincinnati Post's Kevin Eigelbach ignorantly sneered in a May 31, 2007 story), Hawkins said they were inundated by faith-based organizations around the country asking "What do we do? or "Where do we start?", especially after the recent shootings in the Christian ministry and church in Colorado.

In order to address these concerns, the Creation Museum has begun offering its “Security for Faith-Based Organizations” seminar. A book by the same title is also in the works.

The half-day seminar provides an overview of the many facets of security, safety, and emergency planning that every organization should have in place - no matter how large or small.

In order to put things in the proper perspective, the session outlines the growing threat to all religious venues and cites recent examples of foreign and domestic terrorism, as well as hate crimes. Faith based organizations are generally considered "soft target" by potential attackers because they are not known for their security.

Specific topics include security, emergency preparedness, critical incident response, due diligence, and background screening. Many faith-based organizations fear that even making such plans, let alone speaking out about them, will appear contrary to their mission and what they promote (peace). The seminar includes an open discussion of what many institutions are presently doing and what they need to do in the future.

"Having a well-trained armed security force is not unreasonable and should only be intimidating to anyone whose intentions are harmful," Hawkins noted. "The seminars address a lot of security and emergency planning challenges. We...spend a lot of time talking about firearms, training and the issue of [an] 'active shooter.'"

Jeff Hawkins is a senior public safety/security professional with over 27 years of diverse experience working for profit, not-for-profit and government organizations on a local, regional and global level. He has over 1,000 hours of training in the areas of security, law enforcement and emergency management with such specialty agencies as the FBI, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Counter Terrorism Unit in Israel. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice, Management and Technology and has written numerous articles for publications such as Law and Order, Police Magazine, Security Management, Security, Technology & Design and Safety and Health. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of security and public safety.

The seminars are open to anyone with a faith-based organization affiliation or law enforcement officer. Whether you represent a place of worship, school, or if you send groups on mission work, this seminar will provide you with the tools to properly plan.

"We have had great response from law enforcement agencies and have had several police departments from Ohio and Indiana attend," Hawkins informed me, "as well as Christian School administrators and church pastors and personnel, from very small churches to very large ones - everyone has the same concerns.

Interested parties can get more information by visiting www.answersingenesis.org or calling 1-800-778-3390.

Chad Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman and Northwest Ohio Chair.