Safety Member Certification

Our Safety Member Certification provides essential training to reduce crime and minimize casualties in houses of worship. We train your team in various safety and security topics, confirming their understanding through testing. This comprehensive program equips your team with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle routine safety operations and emergency situations effectively.

Testimonials
"Taking the courses at Sheepdog Church Security Academy has helped us develop and improve all these things that pertain to keeping the flock safe. Our Mission is to create a safe environment, so attendees can worship our God and don't have to concern themselves with safety. Our team acts like greeters, smiling and welcoming everyone that comes in while maintaining an increased level of awareness." - Brad Parkhurst, Safety Team Ministry Leader, Movement Christian Church

"This program is the best training program for church security, it has a vast variety of training. My entire team is certified with Sheepdog, and anyone that joins the team has to be certified first before they can participate in the team. After 32 years with the MetroHealth Police Department, I found Sheepdog's training to be exceptional and perfectly suited for our church's needs." - Onix Garcia, Director of Security, West 58th Street Church of God

"The training I received from Sheepdog enhanced my previous Law Enforcement training. Sheepdog training refreshed my memory and gave me additional tools to work with. First Aid, natural disasters, active shooters, teamwork, de-escalation of individuals, radio codes, firearms training, emergency response plans, and so much more." - Tom Beaty, Sagebrush Church, Santa Fe, NM

Comprehensive Training

  • Security Team Fundamentals
    Intro to safety and security as they relate to Houses of Worship.
    Covers: Ministry Basics | Patrolling | Emergency Response | Radio Procedures | Reporting
  • Active Shooter Response
    Develop strategies to mitigate violent intruder attacks.
    Covers: Why Churches Need to Prepare | Civilian Response Plan | Engagement Procedures
  • Deescalating Disruptive Persons
    Verbal persuasion techniques to reduce violence and control situations.
    Covers: Engaging the Subject | Maintaining Control | Issuing Commands
  • Protecting Children from Abuse
    Best methods for preventing and responding to child abuse.
    Covers: Signs and Symptoms of Abuse | Child Protection Policies | Reporting Abuse
  • Use of Force Laws
    Training on the legal limitations and implications of using force.
    Covers: Citizen’s Arrest | Understanding Use of Force | Unarmed Control Techniques
  • Arson and Fire Safety
    How to save lives and church property from a fire.
    Covers: Preventing Arson | Fire Science | Response Plans | Safety Inspections | Fire Drills
  • Storms and Disasters
    Protecting people and property against dangerous weather.
    Covers: Identifying Risks | Safety Inspections | Disaster Drills | Safety Plans
  • Mass Trauma Emergency
    Saving Lives during a Mass Trauma Event.
    Covers: Mass Trauma Events | The 3 B's of Care | High Threat Situations | Care and Aftermath
  • Preview & Introduction for Leaders

    Watch the video to see a short preview of our Safety Member Certification training. This clip provides a quick look at the high-quality, expert-led instruction included in our program. It's an excellent resource to show your church leadership and safety team members, as it shares FBI statistics and compelling reasons why churches should have safety ministries and trained safety teams. Closed Captioning available in English and Spanish—activate subtitles in the video settings for a more inclusive experience. / Subtítulos disponibles en inglés y español—activa los subtítulos en la configuración del video para una experiencia más inclusiva.

      

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    Flexible, On-Demand Training

    Let Us Train Your Team on Your Schedule

    Sheepdog Church Security's Self-Paced Training offers maximum flexibility, allowing students to complete their training on their own schedule. This method is ideal for those who prefer to train at their own pace and on their own time, providing access to our entire library of streaming instructional videos.

    • Anytime, Anywhere Access: Your team can access our entire video library at any time, ensuring they receive the necessary training without scheduling conflicts.
    • Consistent Quality: Each video is crafted to deliver comprehensive, expert-led instruction, ensuring your team gains the skills and knowledge needed to handle any situation effectively.
    • Efficiency and Convenience: Save time and resources by allowing your team to train independently, yet thoroughly, with our structured and well-organized video modules.

    Let us handle the training while you focus on creating a secure and welcoming environment for your congregation.
    Church Security Training Video Screenshot

    Stay Connected and Get Support

    Office Hours with Kris Moloney & Lessons Learned Sessions: Join Our Active Community of Students and Alumni

    As part of our commitment to supporting your church’s safety team, we invite your team members to participate in our interactive Zoom meetings:

    • Tuesday Evenings: Lessons Learned Sessions: Every Tuesday evening, we discuss real-life safety incidents and extract valuable lessons to improve our safety practices. These sessions are a great opportunity to learn from past events and apply those insights to better protect your community.

    • Thursday Mornings: Office Hours with Kris Moloney: These sessions, held every Thursday at 10 am Central Time, provide an invaluable opportunity for your team to ask questions about the training materials, seek guidance, and participate in open discussions about safety and security topics as they relate to houses of worship.

    Your team members will have direct access to expert guidance from Kris Moloney, founder of Sheepdog Church Security, while also connecting with fellow students and alumni to share experiences and insights. These sessions offer ongoing learning opportunities, keeping your team informed about the latest best practices in church safety and security, ensuring they have the support and resources needed to succeed in their training journey and beyond.

    Bonus Materials

    Get Both the Safety Member Certification Study Guide and the Safety Drills for Churches Manual

    • Safety Drills Manual

      The "Safety Drills for Churches" manual is a comprehensive guide designed to enhance the preparedness of church safety teams, staff, volunteers, and members. It includes nine detailed drills for emergencies such as de-escalating disruptive persons, bomb threats, and severe weather. After completing the Safety Member Certification, you and your team can elevate your training through practical drills and scenario training. The manual offers clear instructions for conducting Table Top Exercises and Live Drills, focusing on safety briefings, communication, and precautions. It also includes appendices with checklists, briefing information, and curriculums for fire and tornado drills for young children.

    • Study Guide

      The Safety Member Certification Study Guide is a comprehensive resource designed to prepare safety team members for their certification exams. This guide covers key concepts across multiple modules including Active Shooter Response, Arson Prevention & Fire Safety, Protecting Children from Abuse, De-escalating Disruptive Persons, Security Team Fundamentals, Mass Trauma Emergencies, Storms and Disasters, and Basic Use of Force Laws. Each section provides in-depth explanations, practical tips, and essential procedures to ensure safety team members are well-equipped to handle various emergency situations and safeguard their congregations effectively.

    Here is what the Experts Say...

    Reviews from Law Enforcement and Other Security Professionals

    Overall Rating 4.8 stars

    5 star rating

    *Really well done ... will save a life...

    Rick Marsh

    Well done, and very through ... Can and will save your life of those of others. He pulls no punches and that is the way it should be. I have had other trai...

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    Well done, and very through ... Can and will save your life of those of others. He pulls no punches and that is the way it should be. I have had other training and this is very very good ... and at a great price (buy the bundle ... you will need it) Coming from a Security group in a major city for 25 years.. This is good stuff!

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    5 star rating

    *Active Shooter Response

    MICHAEL FANUCCHI

    This is an excellent course. There are many more aspects to dealing with an active shooter than I anticipated. The course also goes into detail on how to p...

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    This is an excellent course. There are many more aspects to dealing with an active shooter than I anticipated. The course also goes into detail on how to provide safety to members of the congregation as well as how to protect our elderly and handicapped individuals in an emergency. I will more than likely review this course multiple times and take notes. There is also valuable information on how to better secure our church from dangerous threats.

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    5 star rating

    *The Complete Course Review

    Joe Fuller

    Very good information! I learned a lot more than I already knew from my previous experiences and training. This course will be very effective in our Church'...

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    Very good information! I learned a lot more than I already knew from my previous experiences and training. This course will be very effective in our Church's security goals. Thank you for creating this course for all of us Christians to use now. I pray that your success will be continuous in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. God's Blessings to you and your organization! Joseph Fuller, Resurrection Anglican Church Woodstock, Georgia

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    5 star rating

    *Outstanding

    Ronald Miller

    Best presentation on De-escalation I have seen and I have seen a number! Concise, well scripted and focused.

    Best presentation on De-escalation I have seen and I have seen a number! Concise, well scripted and focused.

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    5 star rating

    *Good material, nice to have it church specific

    Philip Peters

    I am looking at taking your entire course having been a part of my church's team for a while now. When I went through my state's private security training m...

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    I am looking at taking your entire course having been a part of my church's team for a while now. When I went through my state's private security training much of that course material was, understandably, non-church security specific. Decided to take this course as a trial run before purchasing the rest of the course and I am thankful I did. Having course material that is presented from a church's need is quite helpful. Well done.

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    5 star rating

    *The Importance of Proper Recognition and Reporting

    Jerry Wolfe

    As a retired LE, I am glad to see a training module that hits the most important topics in recognizing and dealing with child abuse. These topics, when follo...

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    As a retired LE, I am glad to see a training module that hits the most important topics in recognizing and dealing with child abuse. These topics, when followed, will create an atmosphere of safety for our youth. I totally agree that we will likely feel some resistance and even push back in regard to implementing several of the procedures. Be persistent and apply steady, loving pressure in implementing these procedures and let law enforcement do it's job at the appropriate time.

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    5 star rating

    *Protecting Children from Abuse v4

    James Homolka

    Excellent course! Such a timely topic and it was very well throughout and presented. Probably the #1 task in church safety and security ministries and I'm...

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    Excellent course! Such a timely topic and it was very well throughout and presented. Probably the #1 task in church safety and security ministries and I'm glad that Kris and his team provide this training. Thank you and keep up the good work.

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    5 star rating

    *Exceptional Material and Presentation

    Pete George

    It is obvious that this material has been carefully and thoughtfully updated and set-up for presentation. The content of the material is current from a lega...

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    It is obvious that this material has been carefully and thoughtfully updated and set-up for presentation. The content of the material is current from a legal perspective and professionally blends the challenges staff will face within the religious communities which can present extra challenges for an already difficult topic. Church safety teams, staff and volunteers must be trained and this course presentation, and all of the supportive documents, will walk you through the task quite well. You can't afford to skip what SDCS has prepared for you in this training material!

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    5 star rating

    *Good Touch of the Basics

    Jerry Wolfe

    As a retired law enforcement officer, I believe this is a very good compilation of safety/security basics to prepare the committed person for further detaile...

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    As a retired law enforcement officer, I believe this is a very good compilation of safety/security basics to prepare the committed person for further detailed instruction!

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    5 star rating

    *Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

    Cary "Travis" Martin

    Although I have worked in armed security before for beachfront businesses, the Sheepdog Church Security course has brought to my attention some situations an...

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    Although I have worked in armed security before for beachfront businesses, the Sheepdog Church Security course has brought to my attention some situations and procedures needed to cover church security that may not be on private properties and businesses. I took a lot of notes.

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    5 star rating

    *Security Team Fundamentals

    Shawn Olguin

    I have been in law enforcement and security for 22 years and felt the information covered in this course was very beneficial. Looking forward to taking more ...

    Read More

    I have been in law enforcement and security for 22 years and felt the information covered in this course was very beneficial. Looking forward to taking more courses.

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    Imagine the peace of mind knowing your safety team is fully prepared to handle any emergency. No more worrying about untrained team members or inadequate responses. With our Safety Member Certification, you'll have a team equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect your congregation effectively.

    Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take action now and transform your safety team into a confident, capable unit ready to ensure the safety and security of your church community.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Tap each question to learn more about our individual certification program.

    • Feel Free to Call 612-470-7364 with your Questions...

      Please call Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm Central Time. 612-470-7364 (Seriously, if you have a question, Call Kris.) Leave a Voice Mail, if Kris doesn't answer.

    • What does certification with Sheepdog Church Security Academy mean?

      Certification with Sheepdog Church Security Academy signifies that students have been comprehensively trained in various safety and security topics relevant to houses of worship. This certification process not only involves thorough training but also requires students to demonstrate their understanding of the material through rigorous testing.

      Training from a third-party instructor, like Sheepdog Church Security Academy, which has trained safety team volunteers in every state, is often superior to in-house developed training with no testing. The structured curriculum and objective evaluation process ensure that the knowledge and skills imparted are of the highest quality. Additionally, training developed by Sheepdog Church Security Academy benefits from a well-established reputation, which is often more reliable than training from an unknown individual within the church.

      Sheepdog Church Security Certification is a company-level certification, meaning it is recognized by the organization and its standards, but it does not grant any authority or privileges beyond those recognized by law.

    • How can I register multiple students for the Safety Member Certification program?

      You can register multiple students using the Group Orders feature. This allows you to purchase several seats at once during checkout. After the purchase, you will receive an invite link that you can share with each student, allowing them to create their accounts and enroll in the program. This streamlined process saves time and reduces administrative work.

    • How long does it take to complete the certification course?

      The Safety Member Certification course is designed to be comprehensive yet flexible. The course consists of 8 modules, each requiring approximately 2 hours to complete, totaling around 16 hours of training. You have an entire year to complete all the training, allowing you to start and stop the modules as needed. This flexibility ensures you can fit the training into your schedule and thoroughly cover each topic without the pressure of a strict timeline.

    • How can my team maximize the benefits of this training program?

      Great Question! To get the most out of the Safety Member Certification, we recommend a collaborative approach. Encourage your team to complete one module every four weeks. Following each module, organize a team meeting to discuss the key takeaways, share experiences, and apply the insights to your specific context. This group interaction enhances understanding and fosters a collective commitment to safety. By continuing this structured yet flexible cycle, your team will develop a comprehensive and practical grasp of all the topics, ensuring they are well-prepared for any situation.

    • How does the Safety Director Training Toolkit complement the Safety Member Certification program?

      The Safety Director Training Toolkit is designed to complement the Safety Member Certification program by providing church leaders with a comprehensive set of tools and resources for broader safety and security management. While the Safety Member Certification focuses on individual skills and knowledge necessary for handling safety and security situations, the Toolkit empowers Safety Directors with additional resources for developing and implementing church-wide safety policies and procedures. It includes customizable materials, strategic guides, and interactive training options, making it an ideal resource for those who are looking to enhance their safety leadership and create a culture of preparedness and resilience within their congregation. Together, these programs offer a holistic approach to ensuring the safety of your church community.

    • Do you offer in-person training in our area?

      We have suspended our Onsite Instructor Program due to several significant challenges.

      First, the cost of bringing an instructor onsite was prohibitively high. Travel expenses, accommodation, and the instructor's time contributed to a substantial financial burden.

      Second, despite meticulous planning, scheduling conflicts were inevitable. It was almost impossible to find a time that suited everyone, resulting in some team members missing out on essential training.

      Additionally, new members frequently join safety teams throughout the year, necessitating continuous training updates. This meant that churches were compelled to spend a considerable amount of money annually, yet only a portion of their team received training at any given time.

      By transitioning to online training, we eliminate these issues, providing a more cost-effective, flexible, and inclusive solution. Every team member can now access the same high-quality training materials at their convenience, ensuring comprehensive and consistent preparation for all.

    • ¿Los subtítulos en español son precisos?

      Los subtítulos en español fueron traducidos utilizando ChatGPT, por lo que pueden contener algunos errores. Recomendamos que este entrenamiento sea más adecuado para hispanohablantes que conozcan un poco de inglés y utilicen los subtítulos para aclarar el contenido en inglés. Si tiene alguna duda o necesita más aclaraciones, no dude en contactarnos.

    • ¿Cómo puedo obtener asistencia al cliente si hablo solo español?

      Si prefiere comunicarse en español, puede enviarnos un correo electrónico en su idioma nativo. Traduciremos su pregunta al inglés y le responderemos en español. Esto le permitirá hacer preguntas claras y detalladas. También puede pedirle a un familiar o amigo que hable muy bien inglés que nos llame y actúe como traductor durante la conversación.