INTRODUCTION
The concept of crowd control or management cannot be over emphasized. It points to 3 targets.
- The Institution
- Crowd
- Manager or Controller.
The occupational health and safety act 2004 stipulates the security and health of the following:
- The security, health and safety of the people attending the programme and their belongings.
- The security, health and safety of the crowd control personnel.
- The security and safety of the venue.
2.0. ATTITUDE AND PRINCIPLES
A philosopher, Albert Seltzer said “success and failure are more caused by our attitude even more than our mental capacity”.
Note: “Our advancement will never stop until we stop advancing the course of the kingdom of God”. Prov 4:18.
For every promise God has made in His word, God is ready to perform His word. Jer. 1:12.
2.1 God is not looking for who to use, He is looking for who to bless. Exo. 23: 25-26.
2.2 God is not looking for who to stress, but who to make whole. Prov. 13:17.
2.3 God is not looking for who to humiliate but who to elevate. Hab 3:2, 17-19.
2.4 God is not looking for who to put to shame but who to honour. Jn 12: 24-26
2.5 God is not looking for who to punish but who to make prosper. Job 36:11.
3.0 SPIRITUAL MINDED
Any man or woman, boy or girl engaging in kingdom service must be spiritually minded.
3.1 Our church being a spiritual church where God Himself talks to us, we must be
- Spirit filled as an usher or crowd manager.
- We must have discerning spirit.
- We must be alert spiritually, physically and not be distracted.
- We must create the atmosphere of peace and safety at any duty post you are posted to.
4.0 CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
There are linked partnership in this contest:
- The institution (church authority)
- The crowd manager (company or department)
- The crowd control staff
- The security staff
4.1 THE INSTITUTION
The institution e.g. Christ Chosen authority must put good facilities in place that will enhance Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) environment. E,g
- Walkie talkies, for quick backup in time of emergency.
- Enough chairs
- Large and water proof tents and canopies
- Large parking space, properly landscaped and maintained for convenient parking
- Televisions (Functional TVS)
- Good studio with powerful cameras and can transmit events from the church hall to the tents and canopies.
- The studio staff must be in the tent to monitor the functions of the TVS/signal
- Tags to identify whoever enters the venue or church premises e.g
- Ministers
- Members – with space to write station
- Visitor
- Security
- Media/studio
- Enhancing the orientation of members, by secular/sensitization
- Usher
- V.I.P
- CCTV to record anomalies
4.2 THE CROWD CONTOL MANAGER (COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT)
Crowd control starts from smallest station and branch of the church. Hence quarterly training or train the trainers programme.
- Training the senior or divisional head of ushers
- Train the ushers/traffic staff at the divisional head quarters monthly
- Proper maintenance and safe keeping of equipment and facility tools
- Training hand book and instruction manual for use at the national, zonal, divisional and station levels.
Monthly report from all stations worldwide on security and compliance level by ushers, marshals security and members signed by the station minister. Also problems/challenges of security, ushers, marshals, at various levels. Where there is abuse by anyone, such issues be addressed by the department in charge at the headquarters, zonal or division.
- Periodical visitations to inspect and sensitize members of the dangers of disobedience.
4.3 CROWD CONTROL STAFF
- a) The crowd control staff, .e. (marshals, ushers, security and other volunteers) are to be trained regularly, encouraged by sermons that will improve their lives and promote their sense of belonging. Discipline should also be apllied.
- b) Any quarter or section that performs well should be given award annually to stimulate others.
- iv) Security: The security department are partners in the crowd control business and should be trained alongside the crowd control volunteers (ushers and marshals etc)
- v) There should be no contest between the security and the ushers/marshals