Minnesota Firearms Training

This article was written by colleague, and Christian brother, Michael Boutot, CEO of Institute for Church Safety & Risk Management, LLC

What is a “Shofar”?
A shofar (also spelt “shophar”) is an ancient musical horn made from the horn of a ram; used in ancient times by the Israelites to sound a warning or a summons.  In English this is a transliteration of a Hebrew word.  This Hebrew is actually used 72 times in the Hebrew Old Testament and almost always translated “trumpet”.  In our modern US culture, the concept would be understood as community siren used to alert of an impending tornado.

Why “Sound the Shofar”?
Now let me bring into perspective the purpose behind my title “Sound the Shofar”.  It is basically a plea to “get off the pot and do something.”  We have all heard the phrase “Don’t Just Stand There…Do Something”.  I wish I could claim originality or that phrase, but I cannot.  In 1993 Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr, President of Southern Theological Seminary (where I had the pleasure of attending, but years prior to Dr. Mohler) delivered a convocation address to the graduating seniors.  The long oand short of his message was a message of “standing for righteousness” using 2 Thessalonians 2:15 as his opening and primary text, which says: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”  I have no desire to try and re-preach that message.  In fact, I want to take it in a little different direction.  I want to deal with the subject of what has been happening to Christians and churches around the world the past few months.
Ezekiel’s Warning
Ezekiel 33:1-6 uses this Hebrew word “shofar” several times in a text that is a representation of what is the significance and purpose of the shofar.  Listen to these works from the prophet Ezekiel:

“1 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” KJV

These are some very strong words.  While it could take a book to thoroughly explain what Ezekiel is talking about here, let’s try to highlight on some of the key points as relates to this area of protecting churches, Christian camps, Christian schools and other Christian organizations.

First it should be noted that Ezekiel refers to a “watchman”.  The Hebrew word here written in English would be “tsaw-faw”.  It is a word that is used 36 times in the Hebrew Old Testament.  Of those times, the word is translated “watchman” 20 times.  The next most common translation is ‘watch”.  The word has with it the idea of someone set in a position to function as a guard for the purpose of providing protection.  While the Israelites were a people of faith, they were also a people of common sense.  They knew the requirement of protecting their people.

Ezekiel is given a word from the Lord, based on what we read in verse 1.  As such, we can rest assured that God Himself had His hand in what he instructed Ezekiel to do.  It is God Himself who introduces this concept of a “watchman.”  Then as we move down to verse 3, God instructs Ezekiel to instruct the people and the watchman that his specific responsibility is to warn the people.  To “blow the trumpet” or as I would rephrase, to “sound the shofar” so that the people can be better prepared for action.  In other words, God is encouraging them to be PRO-ACTIVE.  And this is not a display of lack of faith.  In fact it really is contrary.  It is showing faith in a system designed by God Himself.

Now as you read verses 4 and 5 it is made clear that if the shofar is sounded and one not take heed to the warning, then they shall be responsible for the consequences.  But now look at verse 6.  The language is clear here with regard to the watchman and his failure to NOT sound the shofar.  If he knows there is danger and he fails to sound the warning, then God says if anyone is killed due to the watchman’s failure to sound the shofar, “his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”

I need to be very honest with you here.  This is why I take my role as both a pastor and a security consultant so serious.  In fact, I feel like I am almost doubly responsible because of the responsibility that the Lord has laid on my heart.
Attacks Against Christians and Churches Around the World
Over the past few months I have been monitoring events in the United States and around the world, focusing on crimes against Christians and churches.  In tracking crimes against churches and comparing to results from 2009, January has already seen a 79.6% increase in such crimes in the United States alone.  And crimes against Christians and churches around the world is also on the rise.

My attention was initially peaked when I read of Christians who were brutally murdered in Egypt in January. Also in January the world began to receive news of attacks against Christian churches in Malaysia.  In a span of two weeks over 12 churches were attacked. Similar attacks began to occur in India.  It was around this time that I wrote “Brace for Impact.”

Then I began to track some trends in the United States.  It first seemed to start in the Jackson, Mississippi area.  Mississippi being my home state I began to follow these events more closely.  Again, in a span of about 30 days there were over 20 attacks against churches.  The concern grew so strong that the Jackson Police Department conducted a two-hour “Crimes Against Houses of Worship Seminar” and I was asked to be the featured speaker.  There were nearly 200 people in attendance and a high level of concern.

And while these incidents in Mississippi were being reported, east Texas was seeing a string a church arsons.  At last count there were eleven such incidents in a 30-day time span.   Church leaders and members in Texas have grown concerned, and understandably so.
What Can We Do?
We as Christians need to get back to the Biblical basics of understanding the concept of a watchman.  We need to be prepared to look out for one another.  Years ago folks banned together and began creating neighborhood watch programs.  We need a similar concept amongst churches.  But to do this effectively we also need to services and assistance of our local law enforcement personnel.

Late last year ICSARM introduced the concept of Church Safety Roundtables.  Whether you participate in an ICSARM-sponsored Church Safety Roundtable or create your own program, this is something that needs to be considered in each and every community.  We are past only focusing on our own church.  We need to work together for the purpose of the kingdom to send a message to those who would attack God’s people and God’s places of worship that we are not going to sit still and do nothing.

At minimum, whether your church is 10,000 people, 1,000 people 100 people or even just 25, please take serious the charge to “sound the shofar” and create a church safety and security team for your church.  The resources are out there to assist you in creating a church safety & security manual and teams.
Closing Comments
It is my sincere prayer that this article be understood for what it is meant to be, a heart-felt warning to pastors and church leaders to take serious the threat of harm against the people of God and His worship centers.  It is not an attempt to instill unnecessary fear nor an attempt to drive business to my company.  There are many providers and consultants out there who can lend assistance to you and your church.

To give you an idea of the frequency of incidents against churches, please go to our web site at http://www.icsarm.org and scroll down to the section called CHURCH & CHRISTIAN CAMPS INCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND AROUND THE WORLD and check out what is happening in the United States on a daily basis.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of our Daily Digest that is sent out six days a week and includes news of incidents of safety and security involving churches in the United States and around the world, a featured article, updates on events around the country, and much more, send an e-mail to michael@churchriskmanagement.org and just write “Daily Digest” in the subject line.

Churches now have to think about security as crime against places of worships have increased lately

Pastor Rick Stathum is the pastor of Salem Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia.  It is a medium-sized church with a congregation of about 2,000 in this far suburb south of Atlanta.  He is very aware that the world has changed along with his role as Senior Pastor is to keep his church, himself and the members of his congregation safe.

Pastor Stathum said “I think that we have all seen the national news, the shooting of a pastor recently in his church when he was speaking before his congregation,” Stathum said of an incident that happened earlier this year at an Illinois Church.  “In fact I have shared with our church before and messages in the past that those kinds of things were coming and basically that we need to do everything that we can to be prepared.”

Since taking over as Pastor of Salem Baptist Church, Stathum has had to deal with theft from cars in the parking lot, medical emergencies during church services, non-custodial parental disputes in the daycare center and even a road rage incident that ended with a man pointing a gun at a woman on the front steps of the church.

“The fact is we have got to be pro-active rather than re-active and the kind of world that we live in and what people are doing, it was only a matter of time until tragedies found themselves happening in the church,”  Stathum says.

Both Pastor Stathum and Sheriff MacBrayer say having a security team in place, along with locking doors and installing security cameras can help reduce the number of crimes and speed up reaction to other emergencies that have become reality in places of worship all over the country.

“All around us there is evil, all around us there is trouble and there is difficulty and that also happens in the church,” Stathum said.  “We do our very best to provide an atmosphere not only for children, but all the way through senior adults that is safe and a safe haven in a difficult world.”

Report By Brooks Blanton

The men, Jason Robert Bourque, 19, of Lindale, Tex., and Daniel George McAllister, 21, of Ben Wheeler, Tex., were arrested and charged with arson of a building in the Feb. 8 fire at Dover Baptist Church, located 15 miles northwest of Tyler, Tex.

Because the building was a church, the charges were elevated to a first-degree felony, said Thomas Crowley, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. That felony carries a sentence ranging from probation to 99 years to life in prison, Mr. Crowley said.

“We’ve been looking at these guys for a while,” said Mr. Crowley. “But we had to paste together information.” He said various techniques led members of a special task force to the men, including DNA evidence and phone tips. A motive for the fires was still being investigated, federal authorities said.

The men had attended the First Baptist Church in Ben Wheeler together, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Sunday.

The string of fires damaged or destroyed 10 churches across three counties in Texas, including Smith, Henderson and Van Zandt. Before Sunday, nine of the blazes were considered arson but the 10th fire, which was set on New Year’s Day at Little Hope Baptist Church in Canton, Tex., was deemed arson on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Crowley said.

That means more charges against Mr. Bourque and Mr. McAllister are possible, Mr. Crowley said. No people were reported injured in the fires, the authorities said.

Bond for the men was set at $10 million. They were being held at the Smith County Jail in Tyler, pending a Monday court appearance in Smith County Court, Mr. Crowley said. Mr. McAllister was arrested in San Antonio by the Texas Rangers and Mr. Bourque was arrested in Van Zandt County, Mr. Crowley said.

Investigators have said that the fires have followed no set pattern. Different types of congregations, including Methodist, Baptist, Christian Scientist and nondenominational churches, have been hit. The fires have broken out at different times of day and on different days of the week. Many congregations have hired security guards or have asked their members to stand guard at night.

The rash of arsons recalled a similar episode in Alabama in February 2006, when three college students from the Birmingham suburbs burned down nine churches over two nights. The students pleaded guilty to federal arson charges and received lengthy sentences.

After three church fires in Athens, someone set fire to two churches in Tyler, about 90 miles southeast of Dallas, on Jan. 16 and 17. Two days later, a church in Lindale, about 15 miles to the north, went up in flames. Then on Jan. 20, another burned down in Wills Point, 45 miles east of Dallas.

On Feb. 8, fires broke out at two Baptist churches in a rural area 15 miles northwest of Tyler. The men are charged in one of those fires. The fires were three miles apart and started within an hour of each other, said the Tyler fire chief, Neal Franklin.