Church Security: From the parking lot to the pulpit
Insights with Ministry Pacific
Release Date: 07/01/2023
Before You Lease: The Hidden Tax Traps in Church and Nonprofit Facility Agreements
Insights with Ministry Pacific
At first glance, it may seem like an easy decision to rent your church or nonprofit facility to outside groups or individuals. But a second – or even third – glance is in order. Opening your church building to outside groups can result in goodwill and surplus income. It could also lead to insurance claims, damage to your reputation and the loss of property tax exemptions. Get the facts, then decide. Thinking of renting your facility? What if doing so could result in the loss of some or all of your organization’s property tax exemption? A large commercial building, such as a...
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Church Facilities: Maintain and Gain
Insights with Ministry Pacific
This webinar, hosted by Roy Harryman of Ministry Pacific Insurance Services, features Matthew Olphin from Glatfelter Insurance Group's Public Entities Client Risk Solutions Team. Our topic: The critical importance of proactive facility maintenance for houses of worship and nonprofit organizations. The discussion emphasizes that while facility maintenance is universally acknowledged as necessary, it often fails to happen due to budget constraints, leadership changes, and competing organizational priorities. The webinar provides practical guidance on how to implement sustainable maintenance...
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Church Security: First Things First
Insights with Ministry Pacific
Interview: Church Security – First Things First In this interview, Roy Harryman of Ministry Pacific, speaks with Vaughn Baker, president of Strategos International, regarding need for houses of worship to provide trained security to protect their congregations. Highlights: Awareness is Critical: 🔍 The importance of training staff and volunteers to recognize suspicious behavior cannot be overstated. Did you know that most incidents begin in parking lots? Awareness is the first line of defense. Security is a Ministry, Not a Military Operation: 🤝 Vaughn reminds us to approach...
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Untapped Potential: Unleashing the Power of Generosity in Churches and Nonprofits
Insights with Ministry Pacific
In this presentation sponsored by Ministry Pacific Insurance Services, Lauren Wright from Generis shares her insights on nurturing a spirit of generosity within churches and nonprofit organizations. She emphasizes that being generous is about more than just financial donations; it's part of a larger journey of discipleship that requires continuous support, open communication, and leadership that models thoughtful stewardship. The session highlights the various challenges that faith-based groups face when it comes to giving, and it provides practical tips for fostering a culture of generosity...
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From Podium to Parking Lot: Reserve Studies Create a Plan for Replacement
Insights with Ministry Pacific
The process of maintaining a facility is challenging. New buildings inevitably age and require repair or replacement due to the effects of entropy. Facility issues can manifest in dramatic events, such as severe weather damaging infrastructure, or in more gradual forms, such as leaks and paint deterioration. These problems may not always be immediately visible, but they necessitate attention and planning. Faith-based organizations, houses of worship and nonprofits typically adopt one of three approaches to facility maintenance: Do nothing This approach involves waiting for a facility failure...
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De-Escalation Security Strategy for Churches and Houses of Worship
Insights with Ministry Pacific
The best resolutions are those that prevent escalation before it occurs. This is particularly relevant for churches and nonprofit organizations, whose primary mission is to serve their communities while ensuring a safe and welcoming environment. This presentation delves into real-life scenarios, demonstrating how understanding body language and engaging individuals with compassion can avert crises. By training teams in these practices, organizations can enhance their ability to handle a range of situations – whether they involve emotional distress, interpersonal conflict, or even threats of...
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Unlocking the Potential of Underutilized Church Properties
Insights with Ministry Pacific
This webinar on church and nonprofit real estate transactions is hosted and sponsored by Ministry Pacific Insurance Services. Ministry Pacific is a property and liability insurance broker exclusively committed to serving houses of worship and charitable nonprofit organizations: . Many churches face unique challenges regarding their physical spaces. Some congregations thrive with an abundance of members but lack a permanent place for worship. Others possess vast facilities but struggle with dwindling attendance. While these scenarios may seem problematic, our expert guests in this webinar...
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Church and nonprofit boards need training for effective leadership
Insights with Ministry Pacific
This webinar, presented by Max Herr, delves into the essential role of board training and governance within churches and nonprofit organizations. It examines the multifaceted responsibilities of board members, emphasizing the necessity for diligent oversight, adherence to compliance standards, and a thorough grasp of both the spiritual and business operations inherent in church management. Despite the voluntary nature of these roles, they encompass significant legal and financial duties that demand meticulous attention, training, and a proactive approach to leadership. The session addresses...
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Effective Marketing Communications for Churches and Nonprofits
Insights with Ministry Pacific
Churches and nonprofits face the challenging task of communicating effectively with their audiences, whether they be a congregation or donors and stakeholders. These organizations are often operating with lean resources and limited technology, exacerbating the difficulty of communication. In this webinar, sponsored by Ministry Pacific Insurance Services, we present a way forward. Even lean organizations can communicate effectively by identifying their audience and then maintaining simplicity and consistently on a few media platforms. The transcript of this webinar is below: IntroductionI’m...
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Churches and Nonprofits: Creating a Culture of Generosity
Insights with Ministry Pacific
Statistics about church giving routinely demonstrate that a minority of congregation members do the vast majority of giving. This is not an example of a few wealthy donors carrying the day. Reluctance to give cuts across demographics. Could part of the solution be for churches to give more money away? In a world where collaboration is key, the relationship between churches and nonprofits can often be complex, even fraught. But what if we could flip the narrative? In this webinar, sponsored by Ministry Pacific, Scott Harris, VP of Church and Global Engagement at Mission Increase, shares how...
info_outlineThe risk of attacks on churches is growing as American society continues to destabilize. It’s no longer optional for houses of worship to provide security at their facilities. But how can a genuine concern for protection be balanced with a compassionate stance toward the community?
Faith-based organizations face the challenging of protecting their flocks from arson, violence and vandalism, while straying true to their spiritual missions.
The answer is not to militarize. Rather, houses of worship should focus on training a group of lay people who begin by practicing situational awareness and de-escalation in the service of the church. Training and the involvement of people in all levels of ministry can elevate the security of houses of worship. Partnership with a third-party, professional security trainer is often part of the plan.
In this interview, Tim Peterson, director of Church Security Solutions for Strategos International, joins us to draw up a blueprint for church security. Details will differ (for example, some churches choose to operate without firearms), but basic principles are the same. Security is a team effort of lay people who use their senses to engage in awareness and action. Security professionals are welcome, but are not mandatory.
Church security begins in the parking lot and extends to the pulpit. It involves parking lot attendants, ushers, children’s workers, greeters and others with an alert mindset. In our interview, we discuss a holistic approach to security, faith and ministry.
Ministry Pacific is an insurance broker devoted to serving the needs of churches and nonprofit organizations. We connect faith-based groups to property and liability coverage and also specialty protection such as active shooter and violent incident insurance. Contact us for a free consultation at www.MinistryPacific.com.