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Approached Quickly @ Church

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by USN2Pulpit, Jul 9, 2012.

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  1. USN2Pulpit

    USN2Pulpit New Member

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    Hello all - not sure if this is the right place, but wanted to share something that happened yesterday.

    I am the pastor, but I'm also an instrumentalist as well (guitar). In the middle of the songs, I was concentrating on playing the music, when I looked up and in the space of what must of been only 3 or 4 seconds, a first-time visitor at our church was right next to me - inside my comfort zone before I even knew what was happening.

    I plan on discussing this with certain trusted individuals - why did no one react? But I also plan to re-evaluate my own security-awareness at times when I am involved in music. Music sometimes (at least for me) requires a large degree of concentration, and I was shocked that I didn't see anything coming until it might have been too late.

    Fortunately, he had just come up to ask a question to me - strange in the middle of service, but no harm done this time. It sure was a wake-up call though.

    Thoughts?
     
    #1 USN2Pulpit, Jul 9, 2012
  2. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Why do you think you need security? Have you had any threats? I understand that it was weird about someone getting that close to you without you noticing especially during worship, but do you have security watching for you when you shake hands with people after the service, whether you do it at the back of the auditorium or just walking around?
     
    #2 Tom Bryant, Jul 9, 2012
  3. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Was this on the stage during the service? That's just weird and I'd think that a deacon should have been aware enough to see what was going on and speak to the person and get them off the stage.
     
    #3 annsni, Jul 9, 2012
  4. USN2Pulpit

    USN2Pulpit New Member

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    Yes, it was on stage, which is what made it strange.

    Tom, without having been there, there would be no way for you to know how bizarre this was. Your example about shaking hands is good, but hand-shaking is normally a mutually accepted - and even expected - agreeable encounter.

    In this case, the person rushed the stage. Surely you understand that is - in the least - a little abnormal. It took everyone by surprise - and gave them visions about things that has happened in other churches that started in a similar fashion.
     
    #4 USN2Pulpit, Jul 9, 2012
  5. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    That's just weird. Maybe your church should set up a policy should something like this happen again.
     
    #5 abcgrad94, Jul 9, 2012
  6. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    Set deacons in front pews or on the platform behind the pulpit with instructions to deal with anyone stepping up to the platform.

    None should be on the platform except by permission... especially during a Church service!
     
    #6 Steadfast Fred, Jul 9, 2012
  7. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    After the church service is one thing. DURING the service? SO weird and needed to be stopped.
     
    #7 annsni, Jul 9, 2012
  8. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I know of one pastor who packed heat. He pastored an inner-city church, but that wasn't the only reason.

    Sad to say, it might be good if at least one member is armed and prepared to use it.

    We do have somebody walking the halls to make sure nobody comes into the building unnoticed. He's not armed, but I'm beginning to think he should be..
     
    #8 Tom Butler, Jul 9, 2012
  9. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    So its no longer "whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also", now it's "whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, deliver his body to the coroner"

    Interesting how much the Church as gotten away from the teachings of our Lord.
     
    #9 Steadfast Fred, Jul 9, 2012
  10. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Tips from Jack Van Impe's 1977 biography They Call Him The Walking Bible:

     
    #10 Jerome, Jul 9, 2012
  11. USN2Pulpit

    USN2Pulpit New Member

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    You're reading too much into the purpose of my post. I simply said it was a wake-up call. It was an unusual encounter that I wanted to mention on this board.

    It's very easy to tap on a computer what people should be thinking. From one perspective, what you said is right: I should be prepared not only to be smited, slapped, hit, or shot on my right side, but be willing to give up my left side as well. I have searched myself and hope I am willing to do that should the moment demand it.

    On the other hand, the role of a pastor (read: shepherd from the Latin) is not only to tend the flock, but to drive back the wolves. I have searched myself and hope I am willing to do that should the moment demand it.

    Many people talk of faith in this issue. It would take a great amount of faith to lay down your life. It does not take faith to bury our heads in the sand, to not provide a safe place for worship, and hope for the best.

    You know, some of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament were also warriors. Were they not men of faith?
     
    #11 USN2Pulpit, Jul 10, 2012
  12. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Being armed is not any less of faith than being unarmed is. If it were then it would be a sin to be a Christian police officer, soldier, or even martial-artist.

    What silliness.
     
    #12 Mexdeaf, Jul 10, 2012
  13. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    I agree about how abnormal it is and it would give you a sense of what could happen. I agree about the need to be aware and that some crazy or evil person could attack a preacher of the the Gospel. My question is more about if you're planning on security during the rest of the service when you are even more vulnerable?
     
    #13 Tom Bryant, Jul 10, 2012
  14. USN2Pulpit

    USN2Pulpit New Member

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    Good morning Tom...thanks for the clarification. In truth, I'm not really planning to implement anything yet. The situation just got me thinking - should our fellowship pay more attention to safety issues in the future?

    My thoughts tend toward ensuring safety for my church rather than myself. The disturbing trend is that people that come into church sanctuaries intent on violence will not just stop at one person. It's almost always multiple.

    Is this something that local churches should consider - finding ways to mitigate the risk of something like that?
     
    #14 USN2Pulpit, Jul 11, 2012
  15. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    We actually have a "Church Watch" team at our home campus which consists of about 10 men who have had military or police training. One of our men was even Secret Service for President Reagan!
     
    #15 annsni, Jul 11, 2012
  16. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    A member of First Baptist Church of Durham N.C. [Pastor Andy Davis is prominent in "9Marks" and "The Gospel Coalition" circles] escaped weapons charges in Bermuda late last year after explaining that the handgun/ammunition/baton stash discovered in his luggage was merely for church security purposes:

    Bermuda Sun
     
    #16 Jerome, Jul 11, 2012
  17. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    Sadly we live in a fallen world and pastors have been targeted. We, as church leaders, have a responsibility to provide as safe a place for corporate worship and fellowship as we can. We do background checks, we make sure van/bus drivers are trained and licensed, and we make sure our preachers and teachers are qualified. I know many men who carry in church, and even in the pulpit.
     
    #17 mont974x4, Jul 12, 2012
  18. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    And this has nothing to do with the OP.
     
    #18 Mexdeaf, Jul 13, 2012
  19. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    At one church I attended a while back, a man dressed to the nines joined my pastor on stage for the music etc, and then when my pastor got up to speak/preach, the visitor sat for a while,then got up and left.

    Come to find out, he was supposed to be preaching at a church in the area with a similar name, but different denomination.

    Bwahahahahaha.

    Talk about "breach of security!"
     
    #19 SaggyWoman, Jul 13, 2012
  20. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Bet he hated missing out on the 'love offering'- LOL!
     
    #20 Mexdeaf, Jul 13, 2012
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