SemperVerus interviewed Del Kostanko, who founded Blue Arrow Consultants, LLC believing that individuals, church security teams, and businesses utilizing threat assessment knowledge to make a location more secure—and to prepare people for what dangers may occur—can lessen the need for force, reduce the chance of physical harm, and minimize liability. Also interviewed below is the security team leader of a Michigan church who asked Blue Arrow Consultants to train his team. [ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ] With your extensive background in the Marine C ..read more

In his article, Pre-Contact Assessments & the 10 Laws of Defensive Tactics, trainer and use-of-force expert Ron Martinelli, PhD, reminds police officers how to make sound, legal, and reasonable decisions under stress in order to preserve the lives of citizens as well as their own. The following extracts from that article are adaptations of those tactics that are appropriate for use by civilian and church security team concealed firearm carriers. [ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ] •   Your mouth and your mind are your two greatest weapons. “The ..read more

SemperVerus interviewed Kevin Robertson, director of security at Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California, and author of the books Church Security 101 and 201: Creating a Safe Worship Environment (Purpose Driven Communications, 2014 and 2019). [ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ] Why is it important for a church of any size to have a security team? I believe it should be a foundational ministry. There are many ways for us—church leadership—to be good stewards. Keeping those God put under our care, as well taking care of the “tools”—items we use daily: l ..read more

SemperVerus: enter your email address in the webpage box to receive notifications of new posts about self-defense, church security, 2nd Amendment, and personal development news and information. Active Response Training: practical self-defense articles by a retired cop. Active Self Protection: use-of-force video analyses to help people develop protective Attitudes, Skills, and Plans. American Handgunner: handgun news and information. Ammo.com BULLETin: 2nd Amendment news. AmmoLand: firearms and gun rights news. Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network: interviews, articles, and commentary on self ..read more

Lucky Gunner Ammo: Start Shooting Better Video Series Active Response Training: Shooting Drills Active Response Training: The Best Handgun Practice Drill Resources Active Response Training: Useful Training References—Shooting Drills [ Read the SemperVerus article, Concealed Carry Daily Prayer ] Athlon Outdoors11 Pistol Shooting Drills to Improve Accuracy Defensive Strategies: FBI Shooting Qualification Test Handgun Law: CCW Handgun Drills IDPA: Standard Classifier Stages [ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ] The MagLife Blog: Shot Timer Fun—Five Dril ..read more

Two more states have now been added to the majority of states in the USA which allow the concealed carry of firearms without the need for a permit or license from the government. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed Bill 1 into law March 5, 2024 (effective July 4, 2024) and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed Bill H. 3594 into law March 7, 2024 (effective immediately), bringing the total number of constitutional carry states to 29 allowing anyone 18 and older who is eligible to own a handgun to carry it concealed in public without a permit. [ Read the SemperVerus article, Nebraska Is Now th ..read more

The newest edition of Family Research Council’s (FRC) Hostility Against Churches report suggests hostility against US churches has rapidly accelerated. [ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ] FRC identifies 436 hostility incidents in 2023—more than double the number identified in 2022 and more than 8 times the number identified in 2018, the first year for which FRC collected data. [ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security: Church Crisis Response Checklist ] Notable findings in the 183-page report include: • Over the past 6 years (2018-2023), 915 acts ..read more

Does your congregation know what to do in the first few hours and days after a tragedy? [ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ] Research studied by the ministry Spiritual First Aid shows that most churches, organizations, and communities are not well prepared for mass traumas. That’s why it has now published the complimentary evidence-based crisis response tool, Trauma-Informed Church Crisis Response: A Field Guide for the First 72 Hours. It’s an outline of the critical stages following a crisis, providing a comprehensive list of practical actions your cong ..read more

The article, Priority of Scan – An Officer Survival Necessity by Calibre Press instructor Lt. Kelly DeVoll (ret.) is written for the readership of professional police officers. But it also has much bearing for individual self-defense and church security situational awareness. Here are the major points adapted for civilian practice: •   In keeping with Col. Jeff Cooper’s observational “Color Code,” we must always avoid complacency (the color “white” in the Code) when in public; nothing should be considered mindless routine. Instead, cultivate a mindful routine. [The Color Code can also be ..read more

The Bible extensively mentions the word heart more than 500 times in the New International Version English translation. It means the seat and center of all life; your inner person; the profound essence of your personality; the seat of your thoughts, passions, desires, affections, appetites, purposes, endeavors. It’s what drives you. Learn all the ways the Bible refers to the heart in the Encyclopedia of the Bible. Scripture emphasizes the phrase “with all your heart,” which conveys the message of unconditional, unlimited, resolute, total, complete, steadfast, ardent, zealous, all-in, no-turnin ..read more