There is still time to get signed up for The Stopped Conference.  That’s right, conference has been rescheduled to November 5-8th, 2008.  What does that means to you? It means that you have 6 more months to get registered!

The Stopped Conference will feature dynamic speakers who have diverse backgrounds in the area of church security.  Not only will you be enlightened, but you will walk away with the tools necessary to secure your church, your membership and visitors.  With the rise in violent crimes towards churches it is only befitting that we are prepared with purpose rather than awed with anguish.  Make the plans, clear the calendar, invest for your church’s future.   Make plans to attend, Stop The Madness…Avoid the Aftermath!

To register for the conference visit www.thestopped.com or call 1-800-bishop2.

A North Carolina church has become another victim of the madness generating across the nation. Ridgeview Baptist Church in Mitchell County, North Carolina was robbed at gunpoint during their 11:30 am church services.  Members were asked to hand over their cell phones, keys and any money they hand on their person.  Two members from the congregation were bound with duct tape, while others where threatened at gunpoint.  We have heard about these crimes and seen the pictures on our television sets.  This is just one of the many examples of the vulnerability that churches face when they do not have adequate amounts of security.  Many predators seek out churches because they are aware of the fact that they are not guarded.   Most churches donot have any level of protection against crime, making them a prime target for theives, vandals, and robbers.  

Churches which were once considered safe havens of our communities have now taken on a new role as marks for criminals.  Now is the time to take action against the vandals that maybe lurking in your area.  Just as business owners take special attention to protect their businesses from crime, the church must beef up their security and take a stand against those who would attempt to harm them.  In the case of Ridgeview, following the incident the police were called and the thieves were caught.  Noone was killed or seriously injured, but this could have been your church and the situation could have been different. Don’t you want the security of knowing that if this were you, you would have been ready, armed and prepared? Take the steps now to secure your churches future, it’s all in your hands.  Get educated, get enlightented, get informed attend The 2008 Stopped Conference in Dallas, TX.  Stop the Madness and Avoid the Aftermath!

The Stopped Conference was featured in an recent article with ABC news. The article stresses the need for the new age church to be armed and educated in church security. In the article, Bishop T.D. Jakes, host of the Stopped Security Conference in Dallas, TX, speaks briefly about the need for such a conference stating that “It appears that evil and wickedness are abounding in unprecedented ways.” As a pastor and national leader, Jakes fully understands the exigency in protecting America’s churches. Not only are America’s pastors getting behind the need to secure our churches, the government has also stepped in with a newly formulated grant program. The funded program which boasts a budget of nearly 50 million will be used to improve security for religious and secular nonprofits at risk of terrorist attack. Following the recent attacks in Colorado, church security has become the new “hot topic” and many are taking notice. We cannot always control the situations in which we may find ourselves, but we can certainly control the outcomes. Take control, Stop the Madness and Avoid the Aftermath. To register for the Stopped Security Conference visit www.thestopped.com, or call 1-800-bishop2. View the feature article. http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=3983024&page=2

Rhonda Smith was found murdered in her local church. She was shot twice in the head by a fellow parishioner and friend. Cases such as these speak to the heart of the issue of church security. It is now more imperative than ever to have adequate security personnel on hand in our local churches. As in the case with Rhonda Smith we cannot always assume the church will be attacked by those from the outside. We have to understand that within the confines of our churches their are members and laymen who could be armed and dangerous. It is with this understanding that we must protect ourselves, our families, our members, and our leaders. The reverence and honor once given to the church by believers and nonbelievers has dissipated. This rise in violence has proven to be a wake up call to the church urging them to take charge. It is not enough to pray, we must act for faith without works is dead. Invest in the future of your church, educate yourself and those who work along side you through proper training and procedure. Allow the church to be a true place of refuge under the direction and power of God. It’s not too late to gain the knowledge and necessary skills to keep your church secure. Register today for The Stopped Security Conference! Avoid the Aftermath and Stop the Madness!

For more information or registration details visit www.thestopped.com or call 1-800-bishop2

Sean Smith is the Man…literally, he is the man behind The Madness. What Madness you ask, The Stopped Security Conference, Avoiding the Aftermath, Stopping the Madness. Smith who is right hand man and security for Bishop T. D. Jakes will be joining as a guests blogger discussing a day in the life of Sean Smith. An expert in the field of church security, Smith will provide invaluable information to volunteer and staff security officers alike. A few topics he will discuss will be his life is like on the road, why security is important to all churches, and what one should expect to receive from the Stopped Conference an annual security conference hosted by Smith and several other security professionals. Join us next week as we feature our guest blogger Sean Smith, be sure to send in your questions/comments so that we can take advantage of some dialogue between your church and one the top professionals in the industry.

In December of 2007 a gunmen entered a mega church in Colorado Springs, CO with all intent to kill and destroy many lives there. 24 year old Matthew Murray, opened fire in a missions training center killing two teenagers before heading to New Life Church in Colorado in an attempt to kill more. The situation would have become a complete blood bath had it not been for trained church security officers who were on hand to impede the actions of the assailant. This incident however is not isolated, nor is if the first of it’s kind as more churches have become the victims of such attacks. It recent years, churches have seen an increase in the number of attacks from shootings to burnings and in some cases members have terrorized and held hostage. It is for this cause, many churches have beefed up their security adding additional volunteers and even providing personnel who are dedicated solely to the position of church security.

Sean Smith is one such person, a former police officer, Smith oversees church security at The Potter’s House a 30,000 member church is Dallas, TX. He manages some 40 plus security staff members in the church alone. He is also the speaker and host of the nationally acclaimed S.T.O.P.P.E.D. conference (for more information about the conference visit www.thestopped.com) which educates churches large and small on the importance of church security. The conference which is held June 5th-8th in Dallas, TX trains church security officials in the importance of procedure, protection and the direction in which church security is moving. The conference has more than double its attendance in the wake of recent attacks such as the one in Colorado.

The fact remains incidences like these could have happened at any church. There are few safe havens anymore and the church along with other public institutions must take the steps to pursue safety at all times. Not just the safety of clergy and membership but surrounding institutions, and open areas who have businesses near by.  The word declares that For it is the lack of knowledge that the people perish. No one knows that better than New Life Church in Colorado, had they not been educated on the necessary steps to take in a situation like this they could have lost hundreds of lives.  Training and education is the key to circumventing the hand of the enemy.  Avoid the Aftermath be the victor rather than the victim. STOP THE MADNESS!

For more information on the STOPPED security conference, visit the website at www.thestopped.com or call 1800 Bishop2.

The S.T.O.P.P.E.D. 2008 Security Conference is just around the corner. Visit www.thestopped.com for more information.