SECURITY

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• Thousands of dollars in equipment (sound systems, instruments, lighting, chairs) are left under the tent each night.
• You have two main options:
   
• Option 1: Tear down nightly
   
  • Teams pack everything up after service and set it back up the next day.
  • This adds major setup time daily and requires repeated sound checks and resets.
     
• Option 2: Provide overnight security (recommended)
   
  • Church volunteers can take shifts watching the tent.
  • Hire a security guard or off-duty officer if needed.
  • Having someone present Friday morning through Sunday night helps prevent theft, vandalism, and disruption.
     
• Even without theft, vandalism or tampering could still occur—a physical presence deters issues.

• Large crowds bring potential risks. One incident per 1,000 attendees per night is common in public events.
   

Potential in-tent issues:

• Visitors who are under the influence or disruptive.
• Theft from parked cars or bags.
• Individuals with mental health or demonic issues.
• People behaving erratically or attention seeking.
   

How to respond:

• Be gracious but firm—give space for God to work, but protect the congregation.
• Move disruptions to the back or side to avoid interrupting the altar or pulpit area.
   
• Recognize the difference between:
  • Demonic Problems
  • Fleshly emotionalism
  • Mental illness
  • Substance influence
    Each one requires a different response—but none should be allowed to distract from the move of God.
     
• Train team members in how to quietly and calmly remove distractions without causing a scene.
• Keep the area between the pulpit and congregation protected from distraction or interference.
• Don’t allow the miraculous to be disrupted by the chaotic.

• Even though no major incidents have occurred, vehicle safety is critical.
• Watch children near parking and drive lanes.
  
• Assign parking lot attendants to:
  • Help cars enter and exit safely.
  • Keep all moving vehicles away from the tent for safety and crowd control.
     
• Prevent poor or erratic driving near high-traffic areas.
• Keep traffic flowing and limit vehicle access near tent entrances to reduce risk.