Protect your church from the rising tide of vandalism
Church vandalism can be much more than graffiti. Depending on its severity, you may have to temporarily vacate your building. What can you do to protect yourself?
By Fritz Hahn
Ministry Pacific
The great thing about churches is that they tend to trust people. Congregations think the best about individuals and their communities. I certainly don’t want to change that.
But given the rash of vandalism (and even violence) against churches, I counsel that they use their heads and their hearts when thinking about ministry. Consider this 2021 report from Yahoo News:
“Houses of worship — across a variety of faiths ... are experiencing high amounts of vandalism, arson and other property damage.”
We subscribe to Google News Alerts about church vandalism. And let me tell you, there’s plenty of (bad) news. Including this story about a historic Alabama church that was devastated by mindless vandalism.
Vandals so completely wrecked the church that services had to be canceled.
“This church used to be a beautiful home to us,” Rosa Stewart, the church clerk, told the Hartselle Enquirer. “Now it’s like walking into hell.”
The destruction included broken glass, fixtures ripped from walls, human feces, vulgar/racial graffiti and paint thrown around the building.
Photos: Morgan County Alabama Sheriff’s Department, Facebook
The times are changing and churches, unfortunately, need to adapt to this new reality. I’m not here to second guess anyone. However, as we read the reports, it’s clear that many, many churches do nothing more than lock their doors and hope for the best. Yet more can be done without a big budget. Something is always better than nothing.
Screen shot, ABC8 News, Richmond, Va.
As you can see from the above image, the threat it not only to buildings, but to anything that’s accessible on the property. In Richmond, Va., vandals trashed a bus owned by M3 Church. Unfortunately, according to the report, the church chose not to insure the bus for this type of damage.
PROTECTING YOUR CHURCH
Here are some suggestions that can help protect your building, other property and congregation.
Develop a working relationship with local law enforcement. Tell them you want to protect your building and are open to their suggestions. If you ask, police may also step up patrols around your property.
Consider security cameras. If no one is monitoring the cameras, they won’t stop a crime in progress. However, they could be a deterrent to vandals and burglars and provide a source of evidence at trial.
Consider alarm systems. These range from alarms that make loud sounds to vastly more expensive options. It’s not all or nothing. If a siren sound scares off an intruder, then the alarm has done it’s job. It’s worth investigating the options.
Light it up. Make sure your building and parking lot are well lit at all times. Bad guys like darkness.
Are you insured? Last, but certainly not least, make sure your property insurance is adequate to help you recover from damage to your building or vehicles. You want to be able to count on your insurance. If it’s not sufficient to pay for repairs to your structure, property and vehicles, consider upgrading. We invite you to review your policy today.
CONTACT US
Want to learn more about protecting your campus and vehicles? Or about security measures for your church? Contact us today: service@ministrypacific.com or 1.866.870.2700.
About the author
Fritz Hahn is the founder of Ministry Pacific, a brokerage representing more than 1,200 churches in the Western United States.
FRITZ HAHN
fritz@ministrypacific.com