When hundreds of people come together, conflict is inevitable. The church is no exception. Domestic violence, addictions and mental illness can spill over into your worship environment, causing disruptions both major and minor.

By learning to observe behavioral cues, body language and facial expressions, you can minimize disruptions and even acts of violence. In addition, this training helps us to fulfill our mandate to care for the flock, protecting our congregation and ministering to those who are in distress.

This is an advanced course that trains staff and volunteers to spot suspicious behavior before it erupts. Suspicious non-verbal behavior is telegraphed well in advance of a violent act. Learn how to discern it and respond effectively.

Topics include:

• Education on the science of human behavior.
• Training on how to see patterns in human behavior.
• Effective responses to de-escalate potentially violent situations.
• Hands-on activities to learn and practice these skills.
• The biblical foundation for protecting the flock.
• History, demographics and trends for violent events in churches.
• Attackers’ motivations and mindsets.
• Behavior pattern recognition vs. behavioral profiling.
• How conflicts turn violent.
• The disconnect between what we perceive and reality.
• Developing and improving your situational awareness (without becoming paranoid).

You will:

• Learn to spot and respond to potential security issues before they erupt.
• Learn to respond calmly and effectively despite our natural instinct to react with panic.
• Learn how to de-escalate situations that involve high emotions, conflict and threats.
• Develop a “camera friendly” coordinated response to potential issues.

Who should attend?
Pastors, church administrators, facility managers, security directors and team members, children’s ministry staff, church staff, elders and key lay leaders.