In a northern church, a security guard was tragically killed by thieves strangling him during a night shift. In another, a 51-year-old guard suffered a fatal heart attack on duty. During a Christmas celebration in one church, a member collapsed on stage from a suspected heart attack, leading to an emergency ambulance call.
These incidents highlight the pressing need for solutions to ensure safety in churches. How can we do a good night watch at a church? How can we not be at a loss when we face those middle-aged and elderly groups suffering from heart disease?
Responses from diverse churches have varied. Some have opted to eliminate night shifts after accidents in other churches. Others installed surveillance systems, though this isn’t foolproof. Some churches, lacking better options, rely on rotating shifts among pastoral staff despite associated risks. Some small churches in the north have no heating in winter, using coal stoves and electric heating, with serious security risks.
To address these challenges, Beishi Church in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, has implemented an innovative, intelligent, and unmanned comprehensive security system to maintain the safety of the church, as well as the safety and health of believers.
Located at 144 Huangsi Road in Heping District, Shenyang, the church is a historic site established in 1914 by a Danish missionary, B. Petersen, under the American Christian Church. Now led by Pastor Fan Bo, the church serves over 3,000 members in a 1,400-square-meter (0.34 acres) space.
Previously, Beishi Church grappled with decisions regarding night shifts. However, they have now adopted a state-of-the-art electronic and unattended security system provided by a professional security company.
This system covers all areas from the ground floor to the fourth floor, including the churchyard and annexes, with devices such as infrared sensors and cameras sourced from renowned companies like Honeywell. The system ensured there were no blind spots, detecting even minor movements, such as a passing cat, said Pastor Fan.
When an incident occurs, the system instantly relays information to a 24-hour control center. Security personnel take appropriate measures, such as dispatching patrol staff, notifying church security officers, or alerting police and fire departments.
Additionally, the system supports wireless remote monitoring, enabling church administrators to view real-time footage via mobile devices or computers. This has significantly reduced the workload for church staff while lowering costs.
One standout feature of the security system is the inclusion of AED (Automated External Defibrillator) online services. AEDs are portable medical devices used for emergency resuscitation during cardiac arrest. The device analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and determines whether a defibrillation shock is needed. If recommended, the user presses a button to administer the shock, followed by CPR as instructed until professional medical help arrives.
Beishi Church’s AED is compact and easy to carry and operate, about the size of a small handbag, and can be used by non-medical personnel after basic training. This is especially important given the significant number of elderly members in Chinese churches, many of whom have heart conditions. There will be an accident if a believer has a heart attack in the church and cannot be rescued in time within the 4-minute golden time.
Initially, the introduction of AEDs sparked debate within the church, with concerns about operational know-how and liability in case of unsuccessful rescues. However, Fan believes that the operation of AED can be learned through training. Moreover, if a believer is saved in an emergency, which manifests God's salvation and glory, the church has fulfilled its responsibility.
So the church sent several staff workers to participate in training, and the entrusted security company also sent staff to the church site for actual teaching. Now, multiple church staff members are certified to operate the AED, which underscores their commitment to caring for members and glorifying God through their actions.
(Originally published by the Gospel Times, the article has been edited under permission and the author is a believer at a church in Liaoning.)
- Edited by Karen Luo, translated by Abigail Wu
