HOW TO START A CHURCH SAFETY TEAM: BUILD, TRAIN, AND LEAD TEAM THAT PROTECTS YOUR MINISTRY

You don't need a badge to keep your church safe.Every week, congregations open their doors wide - and that very openness is what makes them vulnerable. Most church leaders know they should have a safety team. Few know where to begin. And every Sunday without a plan is a Sunday left to chance.How to Start a Church Safety Team is the step-by-step guide to building a trained, confident team from the ground up, written for everyday volunteers and leaders with no security background. No fear-mongering. No military jargon. Just a clear, faith-minded roadmap that protects your congregation while keeping your church warm, welcoming, and true to its mission.Drawing on decades of frontline experience, security expert Simon Osamoh shows you how to move from good intentions to a team that's ready when it matters most.Inside, you'll discover how to: - Recruit and build a safety team from the people already in your pews- Win the trust and support of your pastor and church leadership- Identify your church's real risks and vulnerabilities before someone else does- Recognize the warning signs of danger and act early- Respond calmly in a medical, conflict, or active-threat emergency- Build a culture of safety that feels like hospitality, not security theater Whether you're starting from scratch or strengthening an existing team, this book hands you the roadmap, the checklists, and the confidence to begin today.Written by a former detective and Mall of America counterterrorism leader who has helped hundreds of congregations across more than thirty states protect what matters most.Your congregation is worth protecting. Start today. What are security leaders saying about the book? "Simon has written the book I wish I'd had when we started. It's practical, approachable, and free of the fear and jargon that scare volunteers off. Whether you're a small congregation or a large multisite, this is the clearest roadmap I've seen for building a safety team that protects people without losing the welcome." Wes Pederson, Safety and Security Director, Eagle Brook Church"Most churches know they need a safety team but have no idea where to begin. Simon changes that. Drawing on real frontline experience, he breaks the whole process into clear, doable steps any volunteer can follow. This belongs in the hands of every pastor and ministry leader who takes their congregation's safety seriously." Jason Waage, Security Director, River Valley Church "This is the resource I recommend to anyone asking where to start. Simon takes the guesswork out of church safety and gives leaders a clear, step-by-step path anyone can follow. It's biblically grounded, genuinely practical, and built for real volunteers not experts. Every church should have a copy on the shelf." Jason Porter, Woodside Bible Church, Troy, Michigan