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It is not easy to comprehend, but bad things do happen to those doing the Lord’s work. We must recognize this fact and seek ways to limit their frequency and severity.

Recognizing that bad things do happen, our follow-up question should be,” Are we ready for them?” While we often plan for emergencies in our homes or businesses, a large number of churches have done little to safeguard their people or property in the event of a catastrophe – natural or otherwise. Adequate preparation might not only save life and property should an incident occur, it might prevent an incident altogether. Protecting the people, property, and resources God has given to our care is a faithful act of stewardship.

Consider the following from the hurricanes of 2005:

1. Thousands of felons (including many sex offenders) were displaced. While churches reached out as people of faith, many of these violent, dangerous offenders were unknowingly welcomed into churches and the homes of their members, placing people and ministry at risk.
2. Some denominational officials reported that many of their member churches responded without a plan, exposing their ministries to significant risk.
3. Churches borrowed vehicles and loaded them up with supplies and drove through the night with unscreened drivers to deliver them. The work teams slept in unsafe, unsanitary conditions and often became ill. Such trips could expose the church to liability.
4. Some churches pulled people out of assistance lines and helped feed, clothe and shelter them. This act of assistance was offered; not realizing that in doing so often hindered those people from receiving government assistance in the future.

Churches should reach out quickly and respond to those in need. And understandably churches often engage in ministries with risk attached. However, if you could choose to manage, reduce, eliminate, or transfer that risk without compromising ministry, wouldn’t you? That’s what good emergency preparation and response is all about. We should all hope and pray nothing bad happens, but when it does, and we should be able to say, “We prepared for the worst and responded with our best.”

There are three areas to consider. First, we need to plan for those incidents that happen within our congregation, such as intruders, theft, a tragic death, emergency evacuation, a storm, or some violent act. Second, we should consider how we are prepared to respond to a local or regional event such as a flood, civil disturbance, chemical spill, feeding or sheltering people. Third, should there be a terrorist attack, catastrophic weather event, or other national event; a good plan can mean the difference in being a part of the solution or part of the problem.

As with any ministry, quality leadership is essential. If you have a church safety and security team, these functions would fall under its leadership. However, if there is no team in place, it’s time to form one. Choose leadership that has an eye for detail and is strong in following through who can work well under pressure, and are able to adapt easily. The key is to educate the team, leaders, and members to those events that can happen and how your church should respond. Create a team and then begin working on a plan. We have included numerous aids to help you with this process.

Crisis ministry is about saving lives and ministering to people. Those who have chosen to take a proactive approach to emergency planning and preparation have realized that though the work is often time-consuming and difficult, it is the right thing to do. Once you emerge from an event, you will be able to be counted as one of the churches that really made a positive impact in spite of the event.

Organizing an Emergency Preparation and Response Ministry

Today, churches are recognizing the need to be ready to respond to an emergency. Whether it happens to the church, community, or nation, a faithful and effective response to emergency results only from planning.

Distinct Purpose

A church safety and security team is highly recommended to address all of the church’s safety, security, and risk management issues. Emergency planning and response, however, is a more focused ministry. This team should be designed to meet physical, spiritual, and medical needs in the event of an emergency.

Who Should Serve?

This team should include medical personnel, pastors, counselors, and a large number of volunteers who can respond to and perform the duties necessary in event of an emergency.

Duties

The team will need to identify all of the potential disasters and emergencies and be ready to respond. Searching other Websites, such as those listed at the bottom of this page, will help you detail every aspect of your response. In addition, you should also consider searching the Internet for a more detailed response to many of the emergencies you may be faced with.

Communicate the Need

First, convince your leadership teams of the need for this ministry. Help them understand the power behind this ministry and the consequences of not being prepared.

Gather Your Team

The next step to providing an emergency preparation and response ministry is to gather a committed core of professionals and volunteers who are passionate about responding to the needs of people with the love of God in times of crisis. Identify people who are already involved in the areas needed as part of their daily vocations. Look for people who respond well under pressure. Volunteers may choose to be involved in the actual emergency response but also may be valuable behind the scenes in preparing supplies, kits, resources, and support.

Look to men’s, women’s, and missions groups. Don’t overlook other individuals in the congregation who may not be involved in a ministry. This can be a wonderful ministry opportunity for them.

Select a Coordinator

Once the core group is assembled, select someone to act as director or coordinator.

Define Your Scope

Decide if you will be prepared only for an internal emergency (something happening within your congregation) or whether the church will be prepared to provide food, shelter, and other support in the event of a more widespread emergency.

Consider Community Partners

It is also very beneficial to discuss with other area churches what unique aspects of ministry each can provide. Try to avoid duplication; identify the various needs that may arise and identify which congregation will respond to which need. Some may be able to provide feeding centers; others could offer shelter; some may be able to respond with medical help; and others might be able to maintain a stocked clothing and supply inventory.

It is also wise for church leaders to meet with other local and regional emergency providers such as the Red Cross, state and local disaster directors, and others to work together in the event of an emergency. It is imperative to coordinate and plan with other churches and agencies to avoid duplication and ensure that all needed services are available.

Gather Equipment and Supplies

Once a director, a team, volunteers, and a plan are in place, make sure that you have the equipment and supplies necessary to respond. This will take some time and possibly money (though many people should be willing to donate to this great ministry). Get those items needed to be as effective as possible for carrying out your area of the response.

Conduct Training

Spend time training your team and volunteers. Knowing what to do is essential, but being able to act quickly and efficiently takes practice. Again, coordinate training with other churches and service providers in your area.

Contact Your Insurance Agent

It is always wise to contact your insurance provider to make sure that emergency response ministries are covered under your policy. Usually they are, but keep your agent advised to ensure that they do not have any coverage issues or concerns.

Consider the Alternative

For so many, an emergency preparation and response ministry could mean the difference between life and death, or hope and despair. An emergency preparation and response ministry is about people who are willing to prepare, respond, and act in a way that will bring hope and help to those who need it most. There is no better group than people of faith to provide that to others.

Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Proverbs 8:33 (NIV)

The following are those areas a church Emergency Preparation and Response (EPAR) ministry should recognize. Consideration should be given to what response is required for each area. Your list and responses would be the basis for your written plan.

Responses to Internal Events

(to your personnel and facilities)

1. Lockdown of facilities
2. Intruder, weapon, threat
3. Suicide (actual, threat, or attempt)
4. Kidnapping, abduction, or missing person
5. Death: Staff/volunteer, Church member, Family member, Minor
6. Accident or serious injury (on and off site)
7. Medical emergency or assessment
8. Fire, explosion
9. Bomb threat
10. Bomb or suspicious device
11. Assault
12. Robbery, theft
13. Poison
14. Severe weather: Hurricane, Flood, Tornado, Earthquake, Blizzard
15. Safe shelters within facility
16. Electrical outage
17. Utility shut-off
18. Church/school closing
19. Spilled body fluids
20. Child abuse report

Responses to Community Events

(These may happen in your community but not impact you directly. Their occurrence, however, may require your involvement)

1. Civil disturbance
2. Hazardous chemical spill
3. Severe weather
4. Mass destruction or displacement
5. Providing emergency shelter and/or support (e.g., feeding center)

Responses to National Events

(not in your immediate area)

1. Homeland Security Advisory
2. Nuclear, biological, chemical
3. Other national incident
4. Traveling to respond to national disaster