Faith-Focused Security Training for volunteers to be offered 25 times across Alabama in 2014

Alabama Baptists who do volunteer missions work overseas will have 25 opportunities in 2014 to be trained in safety and security.

Faith-Focused Security Training (FFST) will be taught in locations all over the state by Fort Sherman Academy, one of the world’s largest providers of travel-security and crime-survival courses.

“There’s risk and danger wherever we go,” said Reggie Quimby, director of the office of global missions for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM). “We need to be equipped to the best of our ability.”

This is important in order to take the gospel around the world effectively and to protect the work of missionaries and national Christians in the countries where Alabama Baptists travel, Quimby said.

The training helps volunteers learn how to handle “worst-case scenarios” — criminal activity, political disaster, natural disaster and health issues.

Of the 25 training sessions, 22 will be Fort Sherman Academy’s level A course, the most basic training offered for volunteers who travel occasionally to low-risk areas. 

Topics will include travel security, code of conduct, crime and hostage survival, dealing with government detention and questioning, countersurveillance, rescue behaviors, minimizing exploitation and basic crisis policies.

The other three — including one set for Jan. 30–Feb. 1 in Citronelle — will be B+ level training.

This level is designed for church staff and missions team leaders who travel to elevated risk locations. 

Sessions will cover security, code of conduct, crime survival, dealing with unfriendly governments, detention and questioning. Role-play will be used.

All instruction will be done from a faith-based perspective. 

Level A training is required for anyone participating in the Alabama Acts 1:8 Connections strategy, which connects missionaries with Alabama churches and associations.

For more information or to register for training, call 1-800-264-1225, ext. 238 or visit http://www.alsbom.org/upcoming-events/faith-focused-security-training.

For more information about Fort Sherman Academy’s training curriculum, visit www.fortsherman.org.

(TAB)