Despite continued violence against churches, most unprepared

In recent years, gunmen have opened fire on pastors and worshippers, killing dozens on the grounds of Christian churches and ministries across the United States. Incidents of violence, arson and other emergencies occur regularly in Christian organizations, reports Christian Security Network.

In 2008 alone, a Cincinnati Pastor was killed while attending a funeral. Governor Sarah Palin's church was torched in Alaska. A Christian radio station was attacked by a crazed gunman in Pennsylvania. A church shooting in Knoxville, Tenn., sent ripples of fear through the Christian community nationwide.

"Risks are only going up for the Christian community. The U.S. State Department now classifies faith-based organizations as one of the top five 'at risk' groups in the world today," said Jeffery Hawkins, executive director of the Christian Security Network, a national organization that provides security planning, training and emergency preparedness and response resources for Christian churches, ministries, schools and missionaries.

But in a recent poll, only 22 percent of churches in the United States reported having active security and emergency plans in place or in development. More than 75 percent had no plans at all. In response to recent events, many churches and ministries are now looking for guidance on ways to prepare for risks and realistic threats, including active shooters and other violent incidents.

Jeffrey Hawkins is currently available for interviews or comment regarding a variety of faith-based security topics, including:

- 10 Things Your Church Should Know about Church Security

- Implementing a Church or Ministry Security Plan in Tough Economic Times

- International Terrorism: Implications for Your Church or Ministry

Formerly chief security officer for a large international Christian ministry, Hawkins is a senior public safety and security professional with more than 27 years experience working for profit, not-for-profit and government organizations locally, nationally and around the world.

Hawkins is a Certified Institutional Protection Manager (CIPM) and a Certified Institutional Protection Instructor (CIPI). He currently serves on the U.S. State Department Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) and the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS International) Leadership, the world's largest organization of security professionals.

A Chicago native and a graduate of the Chicago Police Academy, Elmhurst College (B.A - Business Administration), National-Louis University (M.S - Management), Hawkins has more than 1,000 hours of post-graduate training in security, law enforcement and emergency management with such specialty agencies as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and counter terrorism agencies in Israel.

Hawkins has worked with White House Advance Teams under Presidents Reagan and Clinton, conducted investigations with the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and coordinated protection details for politicians and foreign dignitaries with the Diplomat Security Service (DSS), the U.S. Secret Service and foreign security agencies.

Hawkins has served as adjunct professor of criminal justice, management and technology at College of DuPage and DeVry University outside Chicago. He is the author of "Introduction to Security and Emergency Planning for Faith-Based Organizations," as well as numerous articles for such publications as The Counter Terrorist, Law and Order; Police magazine; Security Management; Security; Technology & Design; and Safety and Health.

A frequent guest on local and national television and radio news and talk shows, Hawkins is a noted media authority on the topic of security.

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TAGS: USA violence against churches gunman Certified Institutional Protection Manager

[01/17/2009]

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