Visiting Church Websites ‘More Risky’ than Going to Porn Sites

Note: I was note sure if I wanted to post this article in fear of someone taking it the wrong way. After thinking about it, I felt that the point of the article overcame the risk! This article is NOT saying that pornographic websites are good; however, it is using them to compare how religious websites are in risk. Please take the time and invest the money to protect your website from Internet crime! This report comes from Norton, which is the leading provider of Virus and Internet Security.

From: The Financial Express

According to Norton chief cyber security advisor, Adam Palmer, pornography sites were generally free of viruses, because their operators wanted users to return and keep spending money.

Instead, the sites most likely to carry viruses and malware were pirating or illegal file share websites, and religious websites.

“Going to church websites is more risky than going to pornography websites,” the Age quoted Palmer, as saying.

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Evil Among Us - "Think About It Series"

EVIL AMONG US

By: Carl Chinn

The LAPD Counter-Terrorism unit announced recently that, “… we have active terrorist plots, in this region, right now.” The statement by Deputy Chief Michael Downing (Commanding Officer of the Counter-Terrorism unit) was made Wednesday of last week in an interview with CBSLA. Downing clarified by disclosing that they are currently trackinggovernment of Iran operatives, Hezbollah, sovereign citizen, homegrown violent extremists, animal rights groups and others.

In the Southeast, a terror plot has been averted in the Savannah, GA area. With the Fort Stewart army base close by, the area is home to many current, former and aspiring military personalities. Not all of those have honorable intentions. Privates Isaac Aguigui and Christopher Salmon, Sargent Anthony Peden, former soldier Michael Roark and his 17-year-old girlfriend started all shooting together for recreation. Then it turned more serious.

At some point, Aguigui is alleged to have presented “the manuscript” -- a book about true patriots. They formed an anarchist group and labeled themselves as “FEAR” (Forever Enduring Always Ready). As they cached weapons, developed plans, and gained momentum, Roark and his young girlfriend got cold feet and began to be a concern to the others. Finally they were murdered to eliminate the threat of exposure. Due to excellent law enforcement work, their homicides resulted in the investigation that uncovered the group’s activities.

Beyond simple talk, the group is alleged to have plotted bombing attacks, the assassination of President Obama, and even the overthrow of the US Government. During court proceedings one of the accused recounted how it came to murder declaring the government needed a change, and how he thought “we were the people who would be able to change it."


Think About it:

• As long as there have been opinions, there have been those with extreme views and tendencies to act on their views.

• Though neither of these stories involved a church, churches often represent some symbol of society that some people despise. Isaiah 54:17 reminds us that, “No weapon forged against you will prevail” (NIV). Consistent with the very nature of warfare, if an organization is on the move, there are weapons being fashioned and plans being made for an attack by that enemy. This is not a call for fear, but rather a rational reminder of a very real, active and determined enemy. The security and safety of everyone associated with churches and faith-based organizations requires people, parts and processes that are intentionally focused on protection to (with God’s help) prevent those plans from prevailing.

Security Conferences

I received a request today from a reader to post more information on church security related conferences. I know that many of my other readers often come across this information and/or are hosting their own church security related events. Please send me an email when you come across this information so I can post it for others. I will try to use the “conference” tab as a bulletin board for events. Email brian@securityatchurch.com

What's the Purpose?

Every once in a while I feel that it is important for me to express to my readers “why” I take the time to work on this website. In 2009 I began researching the topic of Church Safety and Security due to a passion I have for the subject. It was quickly evident that there were not a lot of resources available to readers on the topic. I decided that I would start a blog to bring awareness to the topic for church leaders and congregational members. By God’s grace, over the last several years this project has drastically grown.

Since this time I have been studying at both the American Military University and Penn State and have chosen to use this website and topic as the basis of much of my study. My main objective or goal has been to “provide a tool that brings awareness of current church security related events, while offering recommendations of resources for church use”.

This goal helps to fulfill the two greatest challenges that I see related to church security. First, I continually hear that “there is not a need for church security”. By posting recent events related to safety and security at churches, it is my hope that readers can see that there is a need for church security and that these events can and may occur at their local facility. It provides a research tool for churches to find information that they can use to present to their leadership when trying to explain why a specific item should be of concern. The second challenge that I have found is that churches don’t know where to go for help. Over the years I have had many vendors approach me about advertizing or selling their products. I have turned many of them away; however, there are several products that I feel can be of great value to you and you’re church. Some of these include background check services, two-way radio communications, and a new company that provides a computer based panic button system.

Future Plan: My current plan is to continue on the path that I have started. I want to try to grow the readership of this website so more churches can benefit from this information and resources. Over the next year I hope to convert securityatchurch.com into an official non-profit. Unfortunately this takes time and money so it is taking a little longer then I have anticipated.

In conclusion, if you are reading this then you too see a need for church security. Thank you for taking the time to support this website!

Business Continuity Plan Video: FEMA

FEMA Business Prepardness

From: Ready.gov/business

Businesses [churches] can do much to prepare for the impact of the many hazards they face in today’s world including natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and widespread serious illness such as the H1N1 flu virus pandemic. Human-caused hazards include accidents, acts of violence by people and acts of terrorism. Examples of technology-related hazards are the failure or malfunction of systems, equipment or software.

Ready Business will assist [Places of Worship] in developing a preparedness program by providing tools to create a plan that addresses the impact of many hazards. This website [www.ready.gov/business] and its tools utilize an “all hazards approach” and follows the program elements within National Fire Protection Association 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs. NFPA 1600 is an American National Standard and has been adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The five steps in developing a preparedness program are:
Program Management
•Organize, develop and administer your preparedness program
•Identify regulations that establish minimum requirements for your program

Planning
•Gather information about hazards and assess risks
•Conduct a business impact analysis (BIA)
•Examine ways to prevent hazards and reduce risks

ImplementationWrite a preparedness plan addressing:

•Resource management
•Emergency response
•Crisis communications
•Business continuity
•Information technology
•Employee assistance
•Incident management
•Training

Testing and Exercises
•Test and evaluate your plan
•Define different types of exercises
•Learn how to conduct exercises
•Use exercise results to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan

Program Improvement
•Identify when the preparedness program needs to be reviewed
•Discover methods to evaluate the preparedness program
•Utilize the review to make necessary changes and plan improvements
.

FEMA Ready.Gov Website

From: Ready.Gov

 

Launched in February 2003, Ready is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.

 

Ready and its Spanish language version Listo ask individuals to do three key things:

• (1) build an emergency supply kit
• (2) make a family emergency plan
• (3) be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.

The campaign’s messages have been distributed through: television, radio, print, outdoor and Web (PSAs) developed and produced by The Advertising Council; brochures;

 

 www.Ready.gov and www.Listo.gov Web sites; toll-free phone lines 1-800-BE-Ready and 1-888-SE-Listo; and partnerships with a wide variety of public and private sector organizations.

 

In 2004, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched Ready Business, an extension of the Ready campaign that focuses on business preparedness. Ready Business helps owners and managers of small- to medium-sized businesses prepare their employees, operations and assets in the event of an emergency. The campaign’s messages are being delivered through Ready Business section of this Web site, brochures, radio, print and internet PSAs and key partnerships.

 

In 2006, FEMA launched Ready Kids, a tool to help parents and teachers educate children ages 8 - 12 about emergencies and how they can help get their family prepared. The program includes family-friendly Web pages and online materials developed by Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education.

 

FEMA has also worked with a variety of public and private sector organizations to develop tailored preparedness information for specific Americans. The Department worked with American Kennel Club, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Veterinary Medical Association and The Humane Society of the United States to create materials that highlight the key steps pet owners should take to prepare themselves and their animals. FEMA also worked with AARP, the American Red Cross, the National Organization on Disability and the National Fire Protection Association to create emergency information for seniors and Americans with disabilities and special needs. Materials developed for these specific Americans include brochures and instructional videos available at our publications page.

 

In 2008, The Ready Campaign added a section on their web site for military families. The entire Department highlights emergency preparedness through National Preparedness Month (NPM), a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. View the Ready Public Service Advertisements.

 

New Orleans Evacuees Find Shelter in Church

From: Montgomery Advisor
At least one family has sought shelter from Hurricane Isaac at a Montgomery church, and as many as 60 more people could arrive over the course of the next few days, American Red Cross officials said.

The shelter at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Vaughn Road is a certified Red Cross shelter. It opened for Hurricane Gustav in 2007 and in 2009 when the tri-county area had severe flooding.

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My Thoughts: Churches are often viewed as a place of refuge for those who are in physical and spiritual need. Regardless of your facilities desires, members of your local community may come knocking on your door at times of need and you need to be ready and willing to accept them through your doors.

The Federal Emergency managment Agency (FEMA) has a helpful website www.ready.gov that can help you prepare for when this event occurs. I encourage all of you to take some time to look ove this website. I will atempt to highlight several things from this website over the next few days.