070 - Foundations of Church Security Teams (Part 2)

In this second part of Foundations of Church Security Teams, Brink and Tom sit down with Adam McIntyre, Director of Training at Defend Systems, to discuss building and developing an effective safety team through the right mindset, strong leadership, and practical training. We cover communication, de-escalation, realistic preparation, and why consistency and standards matter. The episode also emphasizes medical readiness, proper team structure, and preparing for real-world threats beyond the basics. Stay tuned for Part 3, where we discuss handoffs to law enforcement and post-incident recovery.

1:04 This episode will focus on: training standards, equipment, and mindset

3:15 First responder mindset matters more than security team equipment

3:57 "Act now" mindset - Covenant vs. Uvalde response comparison

7:40 Leadership at the front must be followed, even if others are senior

14:00 Prioritize selecting regular, committed church attendees

17:00 Radio and comms training is often overlooked but critical

18:30 Start with basics before advancing to higher-level tactics. Use a crawl, walk, run progression.

19:22 De-escalation training and Tom's story about improper suspect engagement 

28:30 Pushing through difficult training builds real-world readiness

31:40 Real gunfighting is different than range marksmanship

32:24 Firearm standards must be consistent across all team members

33:15 Follow local law enforcement training standards when unsure

37:50 Consider armed guard licensing or meet equivalent standards

39:00 Many church teams are only prepared for single threats, not coordinated attacks

41:00 "Warrior in a garden" mindset 

44:30 Always have armed coverage near children's/youth areas

45:35 Trauma medical training is essential for saving lives

48:20 Use of GRG map grids to improve internal building response

50:15 Next episode: law enforcement handoff and aftermath