Safe Sanctuaries I: Building Secure and Prepared Churches

This training is designed for pastors, deacons, ushers, Sunday school teachers, worship leaders, and volunteers who serve in churches of all sizes. In today’s climate, houses of worship face increasing safety and security challenges—from violence and fires to severe weather and medical emergencies. This course provides comprehensive, affordable, and practical training to help church leaders create a safe environment for their congregation. Using best practices, case studies, CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) strategies, and lessons learned from recent tragedies, participants will walk away with tools to build a resilient, prepared, and secure place of worship. By the end of this course, participants will be able to: - Recognize the unique security challenges faced by modern churches. - Apply CPTED principles to enhance physical security while preserving a welcoming environment. - Identify roles and responsibilities for deacons, ushers, teachers, and worship leaders in emergency scenarios. - Implement effective emergency procedures including fire, tornado, and active threat drills. - Establish muster points and accountability systems to track attendance during emergencies. - Develop clear, printed, and digital emergency instructions for congregants and parents. - Learn from real-world case studies to prevent repeating past mistakes. Course Length - Approx. 2.5 hours self-paced online training - Divided into 8 interactive modules with case studies, reflection points, and knowledge checks - Final assessment and certificate of completion included Delivery Format - 100% online, accessible from desktop, tablet, or mobile - Includes narration-ready script, downloadable checklists, and printable parent/leader emergency instruction sheets - Faith-inclusive: integrates scriptural principles while applicable across all traditions