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
北方某教堂晚上值守的人员被盗窃分子勒住了脖子窒息死亡，发生惨案；一间教会的保安年仅51岁，就因心脏病突发死在教堂夜间值班的岗位上；一个教堂因为夜间值守人员违规用电炉子做饭、使用没有合格证的电热毯等，被消防部门查。一个教堂正在举行圣诞节赞美会，一个正在表演的弟兄突然倒在台上；初步判断是因为心脏病突发，因为他有心脏病史，于是赶紧打120叫救护车……
这些问题是不是在困扰我们的一些教堂？如何做好夜间的教堂值守？我们面对那些中老年群体心脏疾病突发，如何不手足无措？这是摆在我们各地教堂面前一个急需解决的问题。
各地教会做法也不一样，有的看到其他教会夜间值守人员出了事故以后就干脆不用人了。有的装了监控，但这也不是万全之策。有的教堂无奈，只好安排教牧同工轮流值班，但是这也存在着风险。有的也在考虑，每个月值守人员的费用也挺大；而且有风险，特别是北方冬季一些小的教堂没有取暖设施；有的靠煤炉、电暖气等取暖，也存在着严重的安全隐患，尤其是眼下马上就到了北方的冬季。
针对这些实际问题，辽宁省沈阳市北市教会在维护教堂的安全和信徒的安全健康有新的尝试。
北市教所采用了一个智能、无人值守安全综合安全系统。
位于辽宁省沈阳市和平区皇寺路144号的著名的沈阳北市基督教会，1914由美国基督教会派丹麦人白得逊来中国在沈阳市和平区皇寺路买地建立的百余年的圣教会(In 1914, the American Christian Church dispatched a Danish representative named B. Petersen to purchase land on Huangsi Road, Heping District, Shenyang City, and establish a church. 参考：https://www.chinachristiandaily.com/news/church-ministries/2023-06-21/liaoning-church-baptizes-6-seekers-since-covid-19--12930 )，发展至今，在现任教会负责人范博教士的带领下，已形成有信徒人3000余人、建筑面积1400平方米的教会，钟楼在五层楼上。
过去他们也纠结夜间是否值班的问题，而如今不再用人工在教堂值守了。那就是引用了一个安防公司提供的电子智能、无人值守安全综合安防系统和服务。这个设备遍布从一楼到四楼、从教堂到院内；包括附属建筑、配电、室内外全方位，包括红外线探头、摄像机等，而且其设备均是美国霍尼韦尔公司等世界知名公司的产品。这些设备不仅能够监控教堂内部的情况，还能覆盖到室外区域；确保没有任何安全死角。范博教士告诉我：在监控范围内，就是过一只猫都会被发现。
并且，当教堂的信息及时反馈到该系统24小时控制中心后，安保服务的公司工作人员会采取各种措施防止和避免损害发生。包括到巡检人员现场检查、通知教堂的安全员，通报警方和消防部门等等。然后呢，服务的电子智能安防系统的工作人员就会采取各种措施，包括到现场（因为他们有教堂的钥匙）、也会通知教堂的安全员等教堂的有关人员，直至报警等。
此外，该系统还具备无线网络的远程监控功能，管理人员可以在终端（比如手机、电脑等）通过互联网随时查看教堂的实时情况。
该系统为教牧人员减轻了工作负担。有了这个“利器”教会再也不需要安排人值班了，同时经济负担也少了。
这个安防系统还有一个最大的亮点，该安防公司提供“AED在线服务”（AED就是“自动体外除颤器”）。AED是一种便携式的医疗设备，用于在心脏骤停的情况下提供紧急救治。它会自动分析患者的心律，并决定是否需要电击除颤。如果AED建议除颤，按下除颤按钮进行电击。除颤后，根据AED的指示继续进行心肺复苏（CPR），直到专业救援人员到达现场。AED小型，且易于携带和操作。北市教会的AED也就是如同女士的小手包那么大，即使非专业医疗人员经过简单培训也能使用。
中国注册的基督教会里面有相当多的老年人，而且患有心脏病的人为数也不少。信徒在教堂内如果心脏病突发，不能在4分钟黄金时间内及时抢救，就会出现意外。对于教堂上这个AED设备，起初北市教会内部也有不同看法。有的人担心不会使用啊，还有人说一旦出现抢救失败，教会是有责任的。但是范博总干事认为：AED操作是可以通过培训学得会使用；并且，哪怕在突发情况下抢救了一位肢体，这也是彰显了上帝的救恩和荣耀，也是教会应该做的。
于是北市教会派出了几位同工参加培训，委托的安防公司方面也派员到教堂现场实际教学；经过培训教会有多位同工取得了操作AED的资质和资格。
（福音时报特约撰稿人于辽宁沈阳报道）
沈阳教堂安防的新亮点
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
Innovative Security Measures at Shenyang Church
