A Teenage Girl Allegedly Abducted by a Man at Church

From: WFFA News

A teenage girl allegedly abducted by a man police described as an "obsessed" former boyfriend was found safe this afternoon and the man was taken into custody, police said.

Ruby Zavala, 14, and her alleged captor, Jesus Ramirez, 23, were found in an area near Mount Pleasant, Texas, that has been the focus of a search for the last 30 hours, ABC News' Dallas affiliate WFAA reported.

Mount Pleasant Police Chief Wayne Isbell told ABCNews.com earlier today that authorities believed Ramirez was upset with his ex-girlfriend, spurring him to kidnap the teen, her mother and her sister said Sunday from Saint Michael's Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant.

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Texas Church to Host Concealed Handgun Training Class

From: Fox News

A Baptist church in the Texas Panhandle plans to host concealed handgun training, saying it's offering the class as a community service because there is so much interest in the area.

People wanting to get a concealed handgun license in Texas must take the class. The Rev. Brad Foster of Calvary Baptist Church in Dumas told the Amarillo Globe-News for a story in Saturday's editions that a state-certified instructor will teach the first 10-hour class in the fellowship hall March 2. It covers how to safely handle firearms.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/10/texas-church-to-host-concealed-handgun-training-class/#ixzz2KXkBGlXt

Photo Credit: Luke's Rants

Security Camera's help Catch Church Burglars - Texas

From: Our Town Texas

Michael Lopez Garcia and Robert Zenhye III have been charged with burglary of a building in connection with a break-in on Jan. 9 at the Rivers of Living Waters Church on North 8th Street in Killeen.

About $40,000 worth of audio equipment was taken and windows were damaged.

Security cameras that were set up inside the studio recorded images of the thieves.

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Burglars Steal TVs - San Antonio Church

From: HSAT News

SAN ANTONIO - Burglars smashed out a window and busted into a building to steal flat screen TV's from a northside church.

The thieves scored three flat screens from the children's ministry area of the Friendship Church in the 14000 block of San Pedro.

Church leaders had just shown up for Sunday services when they discovered the break-in

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Texas City Church Closes after Pastor's Arrest

From: ABC 13 News

TEXAS CITY, TX -- A church which had its pastor arrested for drug possession and family violence appears to have shut down

A bank has foreclosed on the Baypoint Community Church's property in Texas City. The news comes weeks after the church's pastor, Terry Gass, was accused of pushing his girlfriend out of his SUV. Police found him and the SUV in the church's parking lot in November.

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Security at Church: The title of this story is what first caught my attention. I thought it was important to illustrate that this church had to close its doors based on the actions of its pastor. This story is sad for multiple reasons… the pastor allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, pushed her from a car and was found with drugs in his wallet. This makes me wonder what he was teaching his flock and how he was caring and pastoring. If you are a church leader do not think your actions will not affect the rest of your congregations. There is a reason that scripture holds pastors to a higher standard.


(James 3:1 ESV) “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

1 Timothy Chapter 3 and Titus Chapter 1 both talk about a pastor being “above reproach”.

Houston Church Parishioners Stop Thief

From: ABC 13 News

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The suspect in a southwest Houston church burglary was in the hospital Saturday night after being caught by parishioners...

Police say a suspect used a sledge hammer the bust through the wall and steal several band instruments.

Members living nearby went inside the building to inspect the damage and found one suspect hiding in the ceiling.

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Texas Pastor Beaten to Death with Electric Guitar

From: EMS1.com

FOREST HILL, Texas — A pastor in suburban Fort Worth was killed Monday by an attacker who rammed a car into a church wall, chased the pastor and beat him with an electric guitar, police said.

Forest Hill police did not say why the unidentified suspect attacked the Rev. Danny Kirk Sr., the founding pastor of Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church.

The suspect, who police subdued by using a Taser, died a short time after being taken into custody.

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Texas Man Killed Pastor At NorthPointe Baptist Church

From: Huffington Post

FORT WORTH, Texas — A man convicted of killing a North Texas pastor caused various problems while jailed after his arrest for the crime – including assaulting jailers – and had been committing offenses since he was a teenager, according to testimony Monday during the punishment phase of his trial.

Steven Lawayne Nelson, 25, is facing the death penalty or life in prison without parole for the suffocation death of the Rev. Clint Dobson at Arlington's NorthPointe Baptist Church in March 2011. Nelson also beat the church secretary before stealing her car and other items.

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Country Singer Randy Travis Cited for Simple Assault in Church Parking Lot

From: The Washington Post

PLANO, Texas — Police in suburban Dallas say they’re citing country star Randy Travis for simple assault after he got involved in a couple’s argument.

Plano police Officer David Tilley said Friday that a woman and her estranged husband were arguing Thursday night in a church parking lot. He says Travis apparently knows the woman and got involved.

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Church Worker Robbed at Knifepoint - Texas

From: KXAN News

{FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) - Fredericksburg police are looking for a robbery suspect whom they say pulled a knife on a church worker and demanded money...

The worker at the church, who asked not to be identified for safety purposes, said she came into work and was sitting at a desk when the door chime sounded, indicating someone had entered the building.

When the worker turned around, a man was standing there.}

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My Thoughts: Story is a good example of needing a panic button at your reception desk!

2012 Church Security Conference - NOCSSM

Church Security Conference May 11-12, 2012 Carrollton, TX Hosted by: Covenant Church Click here to go to conference web site (From NOCSSM) Fellow Members and Supporters,  Each year we try to bring you a church security conference that is worth traveling to. You want to hear and see the latest developments and strategies that will make your church more secure. You want to bring back intelligence that will better equip you to deal with the issues we deal with on a weekly basis. You want the tools to make you more effective and given the upper hand against those that would victimized the church and its people.  You want to feel revitalized in your battle against evil. Well, here it is! The 2012 "Called 2 Duty" Church Security Conference. Don't miss your church's chance to attend this groundbreaking event.  The early-bird discounts end March 15, 2011. Reserve now! President and Founder, Chuck Chadwick NOCSSM

Double Shooting at Texas Church - Murder/Suicide

Breaking News! Two Dead in double shooting at Catholic Church in Texas!

From: KSAT News

{Helotes, Texas - Helotes police say the double shooting at a Catholic church there was a murder/suicide.

The shooting occurred just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church off Riggs Road and Highway 16.

Helotes police Lt. Elliot Rodriguez said police received a call for shots fired at the church and when they responded, they found the front door locked and they could see two bodies inside.}

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Local Congregations and Background Checks

One of the hot topics on the website from 2011 has been background checks. One of the main reasons for this has been my belief on how important they are. I feel that they sever as both a deterrent and an accountability system for screening workers that will be around our children and working with our money. I found the below list today from the Dioceses of Texas. I thought that it served as a good check list when thinking about who should be checked. This is not an exhaustive list, but a good starting point...


Local congregations must do the checks for: 

1. All paid employees (full- and part-time) 

2. All nursery workers (paid or volunteer) 

3. Volunteers who regularly supervise youth activities 

4. Any volunteer who supervises an overnight youth event 

5. Camp counselors

6. Persons having financial responsibility, i.e., posting to ledgers, writing/signing checks are also required to have a credit check. (Requires Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Disclosure and Release Form)

7. Persons transporting children will be required to have a driving records check.

NOTICE: All Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teachers, leaders, and directors will need to have background checks and Safeguarding God’s Children training.

Click for Background Check Information sponsored by securityatchurch.com 

Balance of Welcoming and Protecting

From: Star-Telegram

"Last month, a pastor pointed his gun at two burglars at his Beaumont church after one threatened to hit him with a two-by-four, the local newspaper reported.

Last year, an elderly woman in Arkansas interrupted a burglary at church and was beaten to death with a cross. The year before, robbers in Illinois beat two women while ransacking a church.

Once, churches were sanctuaries where respect, fear of the Almighty or even superstition kept lawbreakers at bay. Now, violent crimes seem to be increasingly common at churches large and small. This week's attack at an Arlington church, where the pastor was slain and his assistant severely beaten, is yet another example."

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/03/04/2897778/churches-face-tricky-balance-of.html#ixzz1FvhTTffN