interviews – Page 3 – SemperVerus

Church Security at Temporary Rental Property: An Interview with Steven Jansen

If you’d like to be interviewed to share best practices of your own church security/safety team, contact SemperVerus by emailing staytrue@semperverus.com.

A church plant is defined as the process of starting a new, local gathering of Christian believers for corporate worship and group edification. Often church plants are sponsored by established churches as a way of reaching people outside of their immediate areas. Church plants usually begin holding weekly services in some type of rental location with the objective of eventually constructing and owning their own facility. The practices of church security in rented space can vary from those in owned property. SemperVerus interviewed Steven Jansen, the leader of a church safety team at a church plant in Michigan.

Why does your church believe it’s important to have a security/safety team?
Our church safety team exists to ensure a safe and secure environment in which our congregation and guests have an opportunity to worship our Lord.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

What training do you see as being important for team members?
The Active Violence Incidents training Del Kostanko of Blue Arrow Consultants recently did for us (and has in some form for the last three years) is one of the most important training we do. I believe in his training so much that I would say anyone who has a CPL (Concealed Pistol License) should take his class! * Anyone who has a CPL on our team is also required to go to a group shoot with all of us each year.

Another training that we do is CPR/AED training. We have a meeting every year to go over what we’re supposed to be doing, how to do what we’re supposed to be doing, and go over any changes and improvements we can make.

We have multiple medical first responders who have their own required training outside of church for their state emergency medical license and we have a couple guys involved in CPL classes who have separate training for that as well.

Interview with Craig Gray: Developing a Protector’s Lifestyle

SemperVerus interviewed Craig Gray, founder and trainer of PeaceWalker.org, a membership website that teaches simple and effective methods of personal protection and church security, and ways to handle conflict and live confidently. It provides solutions for dealing with conflict and violence, ranging from verbal arguments to physical assaults.

With your extensive background in protective services, martial arts, law enforcement training, and defensive tactics instruction, why did you create PeaceWalker.org?
I created our PeaceWalker private online community and training resource to help people who want to learn how to deal with conflict and violence more effectively. Anyone from anywhere in the world can connect with me and this community to learn this simple, effective method of personal defense, leadership, and lifestyle. This resource can be used on its own or in correlation with live in-person training.

By semperverus
Posted on 07/10/202405/29/2025

Tactical Training for Individuals and Church Security Teams to Thwart Active Violence Incidents (Part 1)

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 former security team leader of a Michigan church who asked Blue Arrow Consultants to train his team.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Tactical Training for Individuals and Church Security Teams to Thwart Active Violence Incidents (Part 2) ]

With your extensive background in the Marine Corps, and as a police sergeant, tactician in hundreds of high-risk operations, and trainer of police officers in how to respond to Active Violence Incidents, why did you form Blue Arrow Consultants?
I discovered that tactical training for Concealed Pistol License (CPL) holders is rare, and very expensive. There are numerous CPL trainers in Michigan for people to get their permits to carry, and they do an excellent job, but there is less of an opportunity for those with their CPL to go to the next level. Through progressive training classes, I take them to the next level. My students learn invaluable skills to address threats more quickly, and efficiently, to better protect themselves, their loved ones, and the public.

Interview with Kevin Robertson, Director of Security at Saddleback Church

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: laptops, pens, copiers, electronics—is also stewardship. I liken a security ministry at a church to one’s fire insurance policy at their home. We hope and pray it will never be needed, but if we need it, we want to have it in place.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, New Edition of Hostility Against Churches Report Shows a Doubling of Attacks ]

Why do you emphasize that a security team is a ministry of the church?
I tell people that God truly knew what he was doing: taking a former cop, turning him into a pastor and head of security at a church. This gives me the blessing of being able to see church security through both “lenses;” from a law enforcement standpoint and equally from a pastoral standpoint. Church security is a totally different thing than security on the streets. I used to interview each potential security staff or security volunteer. In the start of the meeting, I’d tell them, “I’ve got a question for you and it’s the most important one.” Afterwards, they would typically tell me they thought I was going to ask them something tactical, or are they willing to go hands on. What I asked them is, “Are you willing to pray with someone?” Now I want you to be safe, and pray with your eyes open. But this is something, off and on, God puts someone in our path and we’ll need to pray for them.