Don't be Scared—Be Prepared! We are told in II Timothy 1:7 that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline." In John 14:27 we are encouraged by the words "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." In keeping with these teachings, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Valparaiso would like to offer Parish Safety Training to parishes of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana in the form of regional workshops. The goal of such instruction is two-fold:
to protect every person who enters any church of the diocese; and
to train potential, if not already existing, Parish Safety Teams who will take charge and direct parishioners to safety in the event of an emergency.
This approximately 2-1/2 hour session trains congregants to become better acquainted with their church facilities and to prepare for emergencies both in and outside of the church. Open to everyone in the faith community, this training includes, but is not limited to, preparation for: natural disasters; verbal, physical, external and internal disturbances; missing children/adults ; and active shooter situations. Participants will learn how to properly interact with local law enforcement and fire personnel. Each participant will be given an Emergency Action and Recovery Plan which may be used as a template for each individual church to adapt to its own needs. We want everyone who enters the churches of our diocese to know that we are doing our very best to provide a safe and secure environment in which to worship.
Please use the linked form to contact Toni Sanchez if you plan to attend so that there may be sufficient handouts.