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Low Walls For High Places
By Michael Jackson
On April 18, 1599, a church steeple in Germany was struck by lightning and destroyed. The members of the church rebuilt it. It was hit by lightning three more times between then and 1783, and each time it was rebuilt. And every time it was hit on April 18. Who would have thought?
Who would have thought that an Assemblies of God church in America’s heartland, Danville, Illinois, would have been bombed, but it was.
Who would have thought that a choir member would pull out a gun from under his choir robe and shoot the pastor, but he did.
Who would have thought that a 9-year-old boy would need to have both legs amputated because he was run over by a hay wagon at a church hayride? But it happened.
The unexpected has a way of happening at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected places.
Since only .001 percent of all deaths occur in church, we can easily be lulled into thinking that such things could never happen to us. And yet the sad truth is, such things can and do happen to us. Churches are particularly vulnerable. We are at war with a ruthless enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.
Many churches are rural, wooden, and furnished with wooden fixtures. We have kitchens, playgrounds, furnaces, vans, nurseries, and more children than the Bronx Zoo.
Richard Hammar notes in his book Risk Management Handbook for Churches and Schools that "one church in 50 had been sued the previous year and 40 percent had filed an insurance claim during that same period." Hammar then adds, "52 percent of churches reported that an accident requiring medical attention had occurred at a church program within the previous 3 years."
Deuteronomy 22:8 warns: "If you build a house, make sure to put a low wall around the edge of the flat roof. Then if someone falls off the roof and is killed, it won’t be your fault" (CEV). In addition, Hammurabi’s code cautioned builders against doing a substandard or unsafe job that could lead to injury or death. Penalties ranged from fines to capital punishment.
The point is obvious—those in positions of responsibility are to take the necessary steps to safeguard people’s lives and property. As conscientious new parents baby-proof their house, so it is that conscientious pastors people-proof the church and its many events. We need to build low walls to keep people from falling off our roof. Here are some important safeguards.
Appoint A Pastor Of Disaster
Someone needs to be in charge in the event an emergency arises. I call this person the pastor of disaster. In short, he is the go-to guy. My senior assistant serves in this capacity. The disaster pastor is responsible to make sure 911 is called. He knows who and where the doctors, nurses, and police officers are in the congregation and how/where to contact them should their services be needed. He is to keep both me and the congregation informed.
Have A Disaster Preparedness Plan
Each church needs to have a plan to deal with various disasters such as a fire, flood, shooting, tornado, hurricane, medical emergency, etc. An appointed committee should draw up a plan and oversee its implementation. That group needs to meet quarterly to see how the plan is working and to upgrade the plan as needed.
Last fall a lady in my church lapsed into a diabetic coma during a worship service. The paramedics were called, and they revived her. During a subsequent staff meeting, each pastor was taught how to give an insulin shot. The staff is now ready should she or someone else need a shot of insulin. In short, have a plan. (On a related matter see the sidebar "Should Your Church Purchase a Defibrillator?")
Conduct An Annual Fire Drill
Each year fire destroys or damages thousands of church buildings. A part of our disaster preparedness plan includes conducting a fire drill. We do this during Sunday School. The congregation is told in advance about the drill. Firemen oversee the evacuation of the building. Special attention is given to the nursery and toddler areas. The fire alarm is used and tested during this time.
Tell People Where To Go
We have evacuation maps in each room showing people which exit to take should they need to evacuate the facility. The recent nightclub tragedies in which 21 and 97 people were killed show that people generally gravitate to the door through which they entered. This can result in a bottleneck. Evacuation maps help alleviate this problem.
Education is the key here. The best plans in the world will not work if the people who are expected to follow the plans are not aware of them.
Lock Your Keys
How many people have a key to your house? Mine? Three: my wife, my daughter, and myself. By limiting the number of keys and knowing who has a key, I make my house a safer place.
Who has a key to your church? Have any duplicate keys been made and handed out? When was the last time you had your building rekeyed? Do you have a key policy?
Many churches are clueless as to who has a key. The same keys have been in distribution for years. Obviously, this is an invitation for mischief. Locks need to be rekeyed periodically. Every key should be numbered and a record kept of who has which key with what number. To add accountability, the board should approve any and all key applications.
Keep First Aid First
Be prepared. A first aid kit needs to be equipped with various bandages, tape, absorbent gauze, antiseptic wipes, latex gloves, etc. Any good medical supply store will have a full list of necessary items. Remember where you store it and what’s in it. The contents also need to be kept up-to-date. Having an item with an expiration date back to the 20th century can be the same as not having the item at all.
Each church-sponsored activity needs to have adult supervisors certified in first aid.
Who Is Going To Drive?
Some of the worst motor vehicle accidents in the history of the United States have involved church vans or buses. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among young people ages 15–20 and account for 35 percent of all teen fatalities.1
Nonetheless, teen drivers often transport people to and from youth group and sometimes even drive our vans and buses. In addition, church vehicles travel millions of miles each year meeting Sunday transportation needs, taking kids to camps, going on senior citizen tours, etc. Tragically, little thought is given to vehicle safety and maintenance as well as driver selection and competence.
Every church that transports people needs to have a comprehensive vehicle policy. This policy should be wide-ranging and should cover such things as vehicle selection, screening and training drivers, vehicle safety and maintenance, accident preparedness, and more. (See sidebar "What Church Leaders Should Know About Church Vans.")
Take Proper Care Of The Temple
Today’s church buildings can range from a storefront mission to ornate temples that cost millions of dollars. Each edifice presents its own list of potential perils. A monthly safety survey of the premises can be an effective means of reducing, or better yet, eliminating many of these perils. This survey should take into account specific risks that are associated with people, property, and liability including, but not limited to:
- Playgrounds
- Kitchens
- Furnaces
- Sidewalks
- Financial practices
- Combustible storage
- Exit doors and lights
- Letting outside groups use the building
Use a written checklist during your monthly survey. Do not rely on memory. Add to the list as needed. Once a problem is identified, take note of it. Leave it on the list until the issue is addressed.
I recently invited a city fire marshal to inspect our building. He and I walked through the building together. We tried to discover items that might be hazardous. Because of his visit, the building and the congregation will be safer and better cared for.
Many disasters can be avoided by simply being aware and prepared. While low walls for high places can’t totally remove the risk of loss, they can significantly reduce them.
For an excellent example of an emergency procedures manual, go to www.nacfm.org/documents.htm, and click on "Emergency Procedures."
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Michael Jackson, senior pastor, New Life Assembly of God, Janesville, Wisconsin. |
Endnote
1. Maria Purdy, "Putting the Brakes on Teen Driving," Teen, September 1998, 114–116.
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