June 24, 2019
Consider these statistics:
-About 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occur in the United States each year.
-Over the last 30 years, the U.S. averages 47 lightning fatalities per year
-In 2016, there were 38 fatalities due to lightning in the United States.
Brotherhood Mutual offers a few safety measures that can all but eliminate the risk:
PLAN your evacuation and safety measures. When you first see lightning or hear thunder, immediately seek shelter. Suspend outdoor activities for at least 30 minutes following the last observed flash of lightning or clap of thunder.
AVOID water, high ground, open spaces, metal objects, open rain shelters, and trees. Where possible, find shelter in a substantial building or in a fully enclosed vehicle with the windows completely shut.
IF LIGHTNING STRIKES NEARBY, crouch down, put your feet together, and place your hands over your ears to minimize hearing damage from thunder. Avoid proximity (minimum of 15 feet) to other people.
IF LIGHTNING STRIKES A PERSON, CALL 911 or send for help immediately. Then, provide first aid. It’s safe to touch lightning victims—they don’t carry an electric charge.
For more information, refer to the National Lightning Safety Institute.
There are a lot of hats worn in any growing ministry – and we want to serve every one of them.
With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s wise for ministries to evaluate their fire safety plan. Whether your ministry is hosting a holiday party, prepping treats for charity, or running a community kitchen, make sure you’re well-prepared with these tips.
The holidays present unique opportunities and challenges for churches that aren’t typical during other times of the year. A lot of the ministries that I work with are seeing steady increases in attendance and are praying for a significant jump in Christmas service participation this year.
In this article, Brad Brown from Plan A Wealth Management gives a wonderful insight into why ministries might consider choosing a 403(B)(9) retirement plan.
As school is back in session, it’s important to make sure your school is equipped with the correct safety procedures. Thinking about your school’s physical security as a series of layers can help you find gaps in your plan. Transportation and volunteers are just two important aspects of your school safety plan to think about.
If there is one thing I have learned over the last decade while working private security and as a sworn peace officer, the more critical the incident, the more likely change will come out of it. Much like a pendulum, an incident occurs, and everyone cries for change.
Updating the lighting in your worship center with LED can offer significant energy savings while improving overall lighting performance.
We are so excited to welcome the newest member of the American Church Group of Colorado team, Lyndsie Glowinski.
Churches are increasingly becoming targets for cyber criminals. The most common attack is by sending “phishing” emails where the perpetrator poses as someone familiar to the ministry staff (like a senior pastor, deacon, elder, or someone trustworthy) and requests some sort of response.
Anyone who turns on the news, flips through a magazine, or browses the web can see that American society and culture are experiencing rapid transitions. Some ministries have valid concerns that issues surrounding societal shifts may expose them to negative publicity, governmental scrutiny, or litigation.
The questions become: when and how can ministries operate within their deeply held religious beliefs when they may conflict with others’ rights?