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By Carol Badaracco Padgett Everybody knows ADT. The security company’s name likely conjures up images of stop-sign-shaped signs on residential lawns and stickers on the windowpanes of homes and businesses. But did you know that ADT also covers houses of worship and has a vested interest in helping them keep safe? Worship Facilities Magazine spoke with Boca Raton, Fla.-based ADT Security Services’ Patrick V. Fiel, Sr., public safety advisor, to find out how church leaders can prepare for emergencies and help ensure occupant and building safety. One surprising find is that even church A/C units are a target. Read on to learn more. WFM: How can church staff know where their building is secure and where it’s vulnerable? Is that something a company like yours can help with?
WFM: What are the two most pressing security or emergency preparedness issues facing churches right now? And is church staff going about combating these issues in the best way? Fiel: Churches are facing the same wide variety of crimes that face most organizations—vandalism, burglary, arson, even homicides. Another recent problem [is] the theft of copper from air conditioning units and plumbing. Churches are fighting back with layered security approaches that include better lighting in parking lots and building perimeters. Fencing is being added or strengthened around childcare areas. Monitored burglar and fire alarm systems provide added security 24 hours a day. Electronic access control is replacing standard keys, which are easily lost or copied. Lost card keys can be quickly eliminated from the system. Also, card keys can limit access to specific areas, times and days. Access control is especially effective, helping to protect offices, classrooms and other facilities where valuable equipment or money is stored. [In addition,] cameras—placed to watch parking lots, building perimeters, playgrounds and interior offices—can help deter criminals, and recorded video can provide valuable information to share with law enforcement when a crime is committed.
Fiel: An emergency plan should be utilized. Work with your local/state emergency management agency and/or homeland security. WFM: In terms of security, how do churches prepare for things like vandalism vs. sporadic church shootings. How do they best put a plan in place? Fiel: In addition to standard security measures, houses of worship [do] need to plan for emergencies such as a shooting. An emergency plan should be written with input from your security integrator and local law enforcement. Once the plan is in place, take the time to practice it regularly with the daily staff and with congregants during weekly services. If your church also has daycare or a school, don’t forget to include the kids, staff and teachers in the planning and practice. WFM: Do modern church design and expensive A/V/L technology put churches at greater risk than in past years, and what are the basic steps that churches can take to safeguard people and property? Fiel: The openness of many churches and their welcoming of unknown visitors puts houses of worship at a greater risk. Clergy and parishioners generally are not used to working closely with police and security providers to harden their facilities against criminals. But that mindset needs to change. Also, the introduction of valuable technology into many churches also makes them more of a target for criminals. And money from offerings has always been a great temptation to thieves. A well-planned security program, designed after a thorough risk assessment, can help deter criminals. WFM: What else is on your mind that church leaders need to know? Fiel: Don’t get into the “it can’t happen here” mentality. Prevention goes a long way. wwww.adt.com |
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Honeywell IP System Protects Sprawling Dallas Church Campus
“The equipment we had was seriously under-utilized,” says Rolla Goodyear, associate pastor of administration at OCBF, “but we had an investment in it, so we really wanted to use it without having to throw everything out and start from square one. Honeywell helped us modernize our system and bring the functionality up to date, and they worked with us to add IP-based equipment to build a hybrid system with a centralized command and control center that would let us be more efficient in using the equipment we had in place.” In addition to providing church security personnel with tools to be more effective in keeping an eye on the buildings and protecting the numerous people who use the facilities each day, the IP installation was part of a complete security overhaul for the OCBF property. Honeywell’s Pro-Watch security management system and VISTA-128 burglary panels afford integrated access control and intrusion across the campus to better manage the site’s total security infrastructure. All the systems report back to the central command and control center, reportedly providing complete coverage for all campus buildings. www.honeywellvideo.com; www.honeywellnow.com Web App Helps Church at Charlotte Staff Save Sanity In today’s highly technical environment most churches, big and small, are looking to use the best development resources without paying a high cost. Church at Charlotte, a large church located in Charlotte, N.C., has reportedly saved hours of labor and simplified administration processes by using a low-cost web app called Formstack.
Church at Charlotte utilizes Formstack’s functionality to allow for members to register for church events online, gather feedback, and take surveys. Using additional features—such as conditional logic and smart routing—reduces the amount of manual labor that staff must perform. www.formstack.com J. R. Clancy Adds Inspection Reminder Lights for Safer Rigging Audio, video and lighting systems in churches today oftentimes require professional rigging. To make sure the rigging is fine-tuned and doing its job properly, churches need to remember annual inspections that are critical to the safe operation of rigging systems.Stage rigging, in particular, is one of the few forms of rigging that actually lifts weight over people who will be standing below it, making it even more important that it’s checked regularly.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that “a thorough, annual inspection of the hoisting machinery shall be made by a competent person, or by a government or private agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. The employer shall maintain a record of the dates and results of inspections for each hoisting machine and piece of equipment,” (OSHA 1926.550(a)(6)). The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards include the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard B30.16 for Overhead Hoists (Underhung), which requires inspection of hoists at least once a year. In addition, some state laws require periodic visual and building condition surveys as part of a risk reduction program. To learn more about J. R. Clancy’s products or to find an ETCP-certified inspector in your area, call www.jrclancy.com Extron Power Supplies Achieve Failure-Proof, Emergency-Worthy Performance
While many manufacturers purchase off-the-shelf switch mode power supplies that can be subject to variations in quality and reliability, Extron says it designs and manufactures its own power supplies to ensure Extron quality throughout the product. To demonstrate the performance of its power supplies, the company subjected them to a grueling two-year test period. Both the Extron PS Series of desktop power supplies and Extron internal power supplies were tested, company representatives report. The energy efficient desktop power supplies are Energy Star-qualified, and Extron internal power supplies consume less energy and generate less waste heat than conventional power supplies. www.extron.com 
Mobile Helps Members Stay Informed, Safe and Easily Able to Give An essay by Douglas Plank The truth ... there is a “new town square” and our churches better have a visible—and I would argue—leadership position in it. Historically, town squares have been where people congregate to interact with one another ... to celebrate, to seek accurate and important information affecting their community. It is where people seek assistance, look for opportunity and ultimately seek truth. The town square is where people were called to action to address emergencies, save lives, save souls ... Often the town square revolved around the church building or synagogue. Today however, many places of faith are about to miss out on the most significant change occurring in the town square, and it resides at the fingertips of most everyone they serve.
So what presence does the church, ministry, synagogue—in general, institutions of faith—have in the “New Town Square”? For most, the answer is nothing or a minimal presence at best. The Numbers The world population is estimated at 6.8 billion. The majority of the world population now owns a mobile phone. In developing nations, often the first communication device a person will possess is a cell phone, not a computer or land line. Consider the truth and opportunity these numbers represent in the context of needing to influence and serve local and global communities via mobile: In the U.S. alone there are:
One of the greatest commands of Christendom is to spread the gospel throughout the world. Most churches and ministries desire to serve people in need—locally and on a global level. Utilizing SMS and PSMS mobile tools (text messaging) can greatly enhance the scope and ease of communicating, financially supporting, empowering, and in general serving those a ministry or church desires to help. But how? The Case for Mobile in Ministry
So how does the church, synagogue or any institution of faith begin utilizing mobile? Start with the basics. Just like building your email list—start building your mobile list. Get the mobile numbers of those attending, serving, supporting and benefiting your place of worship. There are easy opt-in requirements established by the mobile industry designed to prevent spam while ensuring the quality and right to communicate via mass text messages. So build your text broadcasting lists to share a weekly encouraging word, devotional, announce an upcoming study or share a verse/short prayer. Use broadcast texting to alert parents that the youth group’s arrival is delayed an hour due to traffic, so meet at the church parking lot 30 minutes later. In emergencies, have the ability to communicate brief important messages to your entire list, including pushing them to a specific URL for more detailed information. Another wonderful mobile tool is the ability to interact with a live audience, in your place of worship, online, via TV or radio. Ask for opinions about important issues, needs, or general topics. Questions for the minister, Rabbi or staff engage those being served in a meaningful way that leads to trust and familiarity—associating your ministry with mobile technology that is easy to use and can also influence giving. One of my clients uses the [traditional] method of passing the offering plate each week, which entails the opportunity to provide cash, check or fill out a form and add credit card info to fulfill a tithe. But as of late, this ministry is also providing a mobile call to action after the traditional and is seeing a 15%-30% incremental increase in total funds received at worship. Not bad in this economy. Lastly, one ministry I am aware of sends text devotionals or words of encouragement to thousands each day as a way to stay close to those they serve. The response has had a huge impact on attendance, on those signing up to serve, and on giving. The New Town Square and its mobile capability can help ministries spread their good word and work across their town ... across the globe. Remember the numbers cited above, and don’t miss out. Insert your [church] into the mobile town square. Douglas Plank is CEO of Mobilecause, www.mobilecause.com. According to the website, Plank has 28 years of professional leadership and administrative experience in cause-related and non-profit institutions including higher education, social services, medical and religious. 
High-Lites Offers Weathergard Series Severe Environment LED Exit Signs
Weathergard Series LED exit signs offer rugged, wrap-around clear polycarbonate sign enclosures affixed to a sturdy, die-cast aluminum frame. The LED-illuminated, high-intensity, long-life signs are also corrosion-resistant, offering neoprene-gasketed construction with stainless steel tamper-proof hardware. The signs also come with universal directional, removable chevrons and are available in black, white, gray or brushed finishes with matching canopies.
Oakley Series Backless Benches from Witt Help Deter Vandalism
Platinum Tools JackAX 110 Termination Tool to Increase FM Safety
The JackAX’s innovative design ensures 110 jacks are properly terminated, eliminating common NEXT and FEXT failures. It utilizes standard 110 blades—so no expensive die set heads need to be purchased—resulting in increased performance, accuracy and productivity on the job site, as well as increased safety for church facilities managers.
VMP Catalog Showcases Video Surveillance/Security Mounting Solutions
All VMP mounting systems are manufactured from tempered high-grade steel and use durable powder coat finishes. Many models are UL listed for additional safety and reliability, and all VMP products reportedly carry the “Forever” warranty. |
