Articles with interviews

Interview With Christian Clark: Creator of Secure The Church App

SemperVerus interviewed Christian Clark, owner and lead architect at Swell Development, LLC. He is also a broadly experienced volunteer on his megachurch security team. He is the creator of a fascinating and comprehensive new mobile app developed explicitly for church security teams and other church ministries where communication among volunteers is vital.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

From your experience as a volunteer church security team member, what is the need you’ve seen for creating an app that focuses on church safety and security?
As I served throughout the years on church security, I began to notice areas of deficiency in the way that church security was normally executed. There were many gaps in planning, communication, engagement, and visibility that created potential areas where church security could fail. Secure The Church aims to close those gaps.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Church Security/Safety Equipment ]

What is the Secure The Church app?
Many churches have already created security teams to help secure themselves from the various threats they face. Secure The Church is a software as a service (SaaS) application that allows churches of any size to take their security teams to the next level by helping them create and implement a strong security plan and by increasing volunteer communication, engagement, and visibility.

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Interview With Cody Blocker, Certified Protection Specialist

SemperVerus interviewed Cody Blocker, Certified Protection Specialist, founding member and past president of the Midwest Church Security Coalition, author of Protecting Your Church: Thoughts on Church Security and Leadership, and founder of Safety Systems Group, self-defense training company.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

Please describe Safety Systems Group.
Safety Systems Group is my consulting and training company that focuses on church security. I teach volunteer church security teams all the “hard skills” like defensive tactics and handguns, but I specialize in training volunteer teams in the “soft skills” of awareness, threat assessment, behavior recognition, and verbal de-escalation.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Gentle Response De-Escalation Training for Church Security Teams ]

Why have you included the topic of church security in the training you provide?
Security falls under the umbrella of stewardship. We need to protect what God has entrusted to us. I started as the director of security for a large church in the Midwest and saw the need. I have a passion for the kingdom, and I don’t like churches being seen as soft targets. I believe each church needs to have a strong stewardship value and protect itself.

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Interview With Vaughn Baker, President of Strategos International

SemperVerus interviewed Vaughn Baker, president of Strategos International, the global firm specializing in security training, consulting, and executive protection services for school, healthcare, government, law enforcement, military, and faith-based organizations.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Analyzing Active Threat Response Models: A Comparative Study ]

Please describe Strategos International and the multiple services you provide.
Strategos International is a national security consulting and training firm dedicated to helping organizations protect their people and purpose. Since 2002, we’ve served clients across corporate, healthcare, K-12/college, government, and faith-based sectors with a comprehensive, values-driven approach that aligns well with SemperVerus’ emphasis on being prepared, aware, and steadfastly “staying true.”

Our Four Divisions
1) Training

  • Conflict management & de-escalation (The S.A.F.E. Approach) for staff and leaders.
  • Active threat response (PREVAIL! e-learning and instructor-led).
  • Church security team development, usher/greeter safety, volunteer protection skills.
  • Workplace violence prevention, behavioral threat awareness, and scenario-based drills.

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Interview With Bob Chauncey, Founder of Church Security Institute Network

SemperVerus interviewed Bob Chauncey, CPP, CISM, LEO (Ret.), founder of Church Security Institute Network.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, New Website Address for Church Security Institute Network ]

What prompted you to enter a career in the fields of law enforcement, private security, and chaplaincy?
As the son of a Baptist pastor, I didn’t want to be a preacher, but rather a police officer, and God let me do that and more.

In college, I got a scholarship as the assistant to the security officer, a retired Navy Chief. I worked from 7 pm to 10 pm, patrolling the campus and responding to calls, and he called when he was ready to take the night shift. I guess this gave me interest in a later law enforcement role.

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