CEN FAQs: Reality CHECK: Employment Pressure

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the current unemployment rate is 6.2% , and the unemployment rate in February 2000 pre-pandemic was 3.5%. while this is an improvement from the April 2020 unemployment rate of 14.7%, we need to look beyond the Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment numbers to get a solid picture of the overall employment state of affairs.

The graph below indicates the number of people considered in the labor force according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can see the labor force is significantly lower than pre-pandemic and while there is a steep gain for several months, those gains seem to have leveled out. One possibility is the continued higher level of state and federal government unemployment coverage is discouraging many workers from returning to the labor force. If you are obtaining nearly as much cash through unemployment insurance then you would make it in your regular job, why accept offers to return, or look for different positions? 

The chart of employment to population ratio is important because of the measuring of working age total employment. We see a sharp drop with the pandemic onset, with a significant partial recovery, but now we see leveling out of the gains considerably below pre-pandemic levels. During the strong economy we expect to see a significant growth of total workers employed.

The challenges in the job recovery picture seem to be stalled out at about two thirds of pre-pandemic levels.

Keep in mind Fortune Magazine reports 100,000 businesses closed as a result of the pandemic and  a recent  CBS article  reports 30% of small businesses, a total of 9 million, do not expect to survive the pandemic. This will put significant pressure on future unemployment, as workers from these closed businesses seek other opportunities. In today’s environment we need to be diligent in our work and seek the Lord’s guidance as King Solomon wrote, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

Be ready to prepare and respond to disasters large and small by becoming a 

Ready Christian .

CEN ACTIVE Threat News

ACTIVE Threats Against Christians

• Midwest Churches alarming rise in Burglaries, Arson and Vandalism
• Three 100 Year old+ Churches are Destroyed by Fire
• Christian Pastor Paraded and Forced into Hindu ritual
• Crimes Against U.S. Churches in 2019 show an 80% Increase to date
• ISIS continues to Kill Coptic Christians in Sinai
• Christian Doctors Forced to Perform Transgender Surgeries
• Churches in Minnesota caught between protestors and police
• South African Ex-Cop Saves Lives during Church Active Shooter Incident
• Montana Governor Signs Bill to Protect Religious Freedom

INTERNATIONAL 

Jewish venues urged to avoid Racial profiling by searching All bags! Watch Sign for Christians? 

Macron vows France will never give into ‘Islamist terrorism’ after deadly knife attack

Canadian Evangelicals reconsider after Gov assisted suicide law

Turkish Bibles get the U. S. Pastor caught in a political fray

Statement on Current Crisis in Ethiopia

Christian Pastor Paraded and Forced into Hindu ritual 

ISIS kills  Coptic Christian in the Sinai

Religious Groups Lament Nigerian Violence

Indonesian Churches Call upon the U.N. to Stop Violence

South Africa ex police officer opens fire, killing 2 gunmen saving many inside Church

104 Year Old Canadian Church Destroyed by Fire

NATIONAL

CIA finds a range  of Security Threats caused by  Covid - Houses of Worship should be Advised 

Supply chain attack on password manager. Churches advised to make passwords safe 

Man charged with hate crimes against a predominantly African American Church 

A look at the numbers in 2019 of crimes against U. S. Churches. Data now? 

One DC pastor cited among largely unreported widespread nationwide PPE fraud 

How Some Evangelicals Pushed Back on Biden’s Refugee Reversal

Biden Appeal Forces Christian doctors to perform transgender surgeries in spite of objections 

Christian leaders respond to Derek Chauvin verdict. 

STATE

AZ:  Russian Jehovah Witness was deported, shot by Federal Agent after illegally reentering U. S. 

IN: Guilty Plea avoids jail time in Church Vandal crime

IN: Churches may not be restricted unfairly during emergencies under new State law

MA: Former Student called for extermination of Jews and convicted of bomb making gets 15 years 

MA: Man smashes car into Dorchester church faces up to 15 years in prison 

MI:  Former priest pleads guilty to sexual abuse in the upper penninsula

MI: 50 year old Holly church burns to ground, cause under investigation 

MO: Man Charged in hate crime with Church burglary, arson, and felony 

MT:  Montana Gov. Signs bill protecting Religious liberty 

MN:  Churches in Minnesota caught in standoff between police and protestors

MN: 107 Year old Church Destroyed by Fire 

PA: Man Charged as Remains of Amish Girl found after walking home from Church

TN: Knoxville man arrested for materially supporting ISIS. Be Aware church 

TX: Tyler Dale Chapel church van engulfed in flames  

WI: Livingston Church burglary

WI: Chippewa Falls Church burglary

 

“Surely his salvation is near those who fear Him, that His Glory may dwell in our land.”

Psalm 85:9

“The Spirit of man is more important than physical strength, and the spiritual fiber of a nation than its wealth.” U.S. President Eisenhower

Let’s PRAY...God help us to reverence YOU above all others. Help us to find salvation in YOU alone. Father, we ask for your Spirit to move upon the nations of the world, bringing holiness and righteousness, whereby every nation would place more importance on their spiritual fiber than wealth or power.  May your Glory dwell upon the earth! 

______________________________________________________________________________

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• Comprehensive Readiness Assessments 

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• ‘Up to the Minute’ Expert Conference Calls 

Provide timely life-saving action steps. 

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Prepares you to avoid danger. Watch trailer HERE

• SENSITIVE DATA 

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Christians who are AWARE and READY will be THERE with Hope in any crisis!

_______________________________________________________________________________

CEN ALERTS, Advisories, ACTIVE Threat News, and FAQs provide timely actionable information to help you be AWARE - READY and THERE sharing Christ for such a time as this! 

CEN FAQs: Spring is Tornado Season - Get Ready

Other Helpful Resources:

ReadyChristian

ReadyChurch

ReadyCity

Active Shooter Preparedness  

Active Shooter: What You Can Do Online Course 

Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships

Employee Vigilance Through the Power of Hello  

Fire as a Weapon

House of Worship Website

Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA)

Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment Tool 

Hometown Security 

If You See Something, Say Something®  

Insider Threat Guide

Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide and Fact Sheet

Protect Your Privacy

Preventing Targeted Violence Against Faith Communities

Protecting Your Church from Vandalism 

Responding to Civil Unrest Guide

Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Places 

Security Guide

Security Fact Sheet

School Safety and Security 

Securing Public Gatherings

Ten Reasons why Churches are Soft Targets

“Be ready to give an answer for the Hope of Christ within you.” 

I Peter 3:15

Keep CEN ACTIVE Threat News coming - prayerfully DONATE Today! 

CEN FAQs: Curbing Workplace Violence

 

Workplace violence has erupted around the United States with fatal consequences throughout the country. In addition to these headline-grabbing tragedies, workplace violence also involves physical assault and verbal abuse. How can a business, large or small, take the maximum precautions against violence?   

 

The best predictor of future behavior is past actions. Those committing violence seldom lash out aggressively from nowhere, but build up and escalate a temper with increasing intensity. Scripture warns, “Do not associate with a man given to anger…” (Proverbs 22:24 NAS). 

 

Avoiding workplace problems begins with your hiring process. During the interview, ask about any conflict with past bosses, and how that conflict was resolved. Like in marriage, some conflict will occur, the key is how the conflict was resolved. If past conflict was always the boss’s fault, and you sense the candidate’s temperature rising, consider backing off and not offering a job, as that could be a symptom of a temper. Check past employment references carefully, and ask how the person resolved conflict, and if they displayed a temper. Your diligence in hiring and reference checking will avoid hiring many contentious people.

 

Next, develop a zero tolerance policy for abusive behavior of any kind. Verbal abuse may turn into door slamming, door slamming into assault, and assault into worse violence. Establish a clear policy, and communicate clearly to all employees that “temper tantrums'' of any type will not be tolerated. King Solomon pointed out “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds his back”. (Proverbs 29:11 NAS) Any employee that repeatedly loses their temper is thus classified as a fool.

 

When a person demonstrates excessive anger in any way, step in immediately. Calmly state that the behavior is unacceptable, and ask them to cool down. If necessary, ask them to return to their workplace, or step away yourself if necessary. Approach the person later and identify the behavior that was unacceptable, and insist on change. If you experience a repeat performance, revisit the issue, and state a future consequence for future displays. Clear future consequences may be the incentive necessary to motivate the person to improve. Proverbs relates, “A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond” (Proverbs 29:19 NIV) and further, “A man of great anger shall bear the penalty”. (Proverbs 19:19 NAS)

 

I managed a person who displayed a fit of temper. When angry, he would slam doors, crash down the phone, and toss papers around. After several confrontations with this person, nothing changed. Then, I explained that the next outburst would generate a formal, written warning in the person's personal file, the next offense would generate a one day suspension, the next a three day suspension and then an immediate dismissal. After the written warning, the behavior changed, proving the temper could be controlled.

 

 A zero tolerance policy will require immediate dismissal for out of bounds actions. Any physical striking of a co-worker, or destruction of property should be followed by immediate dismissal. Often those involved in workplace shooting had a long history of workplace abuses that escalated into the ultimate violence.  

 

Take any threat seriously. Never judge yourself if the danger is real. Take immediate action. I received a call on a Saturday evening that an employee left work angry and threatened to come back and “shoot up the place”. The action taken was to file a complaint with the police, as a threat of violence is a crime. The person was notified that they were suspended pending certification from a physiatrist that they could safely return to work. The person resigned, and was constrained by the police from any escalation.

 

Hire carefully, check references vigilantly, establish a zero tolerance policy, enforce your rules diligently and take quick action to any threats and keep your workplace risk to a minimum.  

 

Find out how ready you are to respond as a ReadyChristian to workplace violence, today!

CEN FAQs: Reality CHECK: Higher Prices!

Most of us watched prices of many items increase, all of us are feeling the effect of higher costs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics  reported overall price increases in the economy at 0.6% in March. While this may seem to be a minor increase keep in mind that if sustained at the same rate the price increases would amount to 7.2% an annual basis and few of us are seeing this type of increase in our income.

NBC News Reports the price of fruits and vegetables have increased 2% since February of this year while the index for fish, meat, eggs, and poultry increased 0.4%.  Before you slough off what seemed like a slight increase on an annual basis these protein items would be increasing 4.8%, enough to impact any family’s budget.

Additionally, food eaten outside the home increased in price 3.7% and what is called limited-service meals, which include takeout and delivery increased a whopping 6.5% for the year.

Throughout much of the world much larger food cost increases  in food costs are impoverishing those who already were living on the edge, with 7 million starving in East Africa.  

Energy costs increased over the past year by 13.2%, led by gasoline's huge gain of 22.5%, with 9% of the gasoline increase in March alone.

In the current economy some products are increasing faster than others, lumber is a significant example up 300% this past year  and is beginning to significantly impact the new housing market. Eighteen months ago, a $400,000 single-family home contained about $35,000 of lumber but today the same amount of lumber cost $80,000.

The calculation for calculating the Consumer Price Index (CPI) changed after 1980, if the same method was used today the CPI would increase by 10%

The chart below demonstrates how the Federal Reserve Bank has increased the money supply to help finance the stimulus spending.   

Food prices are expected to increase over the next year. Amos wrote about a Time in the past when, “…We may make the ephah small and the shekel great…” Amos 8:5.

Given food is a necessity for each family and food costs are likely going to be increasing we have an opportunity to institute some principles which will help us during the coming year such as:

• Buy staples and groceries, you use on a regular basis as far in advance as possible to get ahead of future price increases

• Make a meal plan for the week in advance

• Prepare a specific shopping list for the grocery store, and don’t add impulse items to your purchases

• Use less prepared food which is more expensive,

• Utilize crock pots to cook dinner while you may be away

• Stock up when items are on sale that you use on a regular basis

• By larger quantities of foods, at a reduced price, then divide and freeze in small units

• Consider substitutions such as less costly cuts of meat or adding beans to recipes which is an inexpensive way of adding protein

• Freeze leftovers before they go bad so they can be eaten later

Use these ideas to reduce your food expenses in the future and check out the 

Christian Emergency Network  and become a Ready Christian ready to respond in all emergencies, large and small.

CEN ACTIVE Threat News

ACTIVE Threats Against Christians

INTERNATIONAL 

Christian nurses jailed for Blasphemy in Pakistan

Believers confined to homes in India by police, tribal threats abound. 

Seven Million at Risk of Starvation across East Africa

French Laws Threaten Religious Freedom as ALL Labeled with Islamic Extremists

Makassar suicide bomber were newlyweds and members of Jihad group. 

Ukrainians Suffering during Lockdown according to Mercy Projects Ministry

Churches Plead with Leaders to Help Stop the Repeated Violence in Northern Ireland

What will China using vaccines for diplomacy or pressure mean for Christians?

France tightens grip on Churches 

Clergy call for Campaign to Prevent Escalating London Youth Knife Attacks

NATIONAL

Update on Catholic Church Attacks 

DHS issues Fire as a Weapon Resource Amid rising Church Arson incidents

VP Pence launches Advocacy Group for Pro-Life, Rights, and Conservative Values 

Christian Schools fight back against LGBTQ lawsuit

Supreme Court makes Religious Liberty stand on California Indoor Bible study  

A Second Western Dust Bowl Heading our Way?

U.S. Homicide Rate Soars (see STATS) as Hearts toward Loss of Life turn Ice cold

Court says No Absolute Right to Abortion as Down’s Syndrome Baby Saved 

EEOC firing raises religious liberty questions 

STATE

AL: Mobile Alabama Black Lives Matter banner stolen

CA: Sacramento 3 alarm Fire in Chinese church under investigation

GA: Catalytic Converters Removed from Church Vehicles after Theft

KY: Louisville Boy Scouts from St. Patrick’s Church to replace gear after Theft

MA: Greenfield MA guilty plea for starting 3 church firers

MN: Faith leaders speak out about recent police killing in Brooklyn Center MN. 

MN: Bomb threat Spring Lake Park MN Emmanuel Christian Center 

OR: Portland Christian Church Ministering to Homeless as Rioters Destroy 2nd Time

PA: Radnor PA  St. Katherine's Church was spray painted and vandalized

PA: Pittsburgh Church administrator convicted of stealing $1.2 million from church

NE: Active Shooter injures several at Omaha mall. 

SC: Two arrested in theft of $2,000 candle sticks from Columbia SC church

TX: San Antonio Church destroyed by fire, cause under investigation

TX: Pray for Austin as Former Sheriff’s Detective Kills Three  

VA: Liberty University sues Jerry Falwell Jr. For Breach of Contract.  

WA: Your Place outreach Spokane Center Church fire

WV: Faythe police foil burglary in progress

“Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do = 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.” I Chronicles 12:32

Let’s PRAY: God you have been so faithful to your children! By any and all means will you wake us up to Glorify You in this hour? Will you make us godly people who find favor with those in authority to bring Your solutions to the problems we are facing around the world? And, would you place your Hand of protection on your children to stand strong as Lighthouses of Truth and eternal Freedom in a dark world? Help us to be ready to lovingly offer Your Hope to those who are in turmoil and confusion. Lord, we confess the problems we see are beyond our ability to remedy. We humbly seek Your Knowledge and Strength to find innovative solutions according to Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit to draw each of Your children into a closer relationship with YOU! AMEN

________________________________________________________________________________

AWARE - READY - THERE

Sign up for CEN’s Enhanced ReadyChristian FREE MEMBERSHIP which includes:

• Comprehensive Readiness Assessments measures your ability to replace fear with Hope and confidence.

• ‘Up to the Minute’ Expert Conference Calls provide timely life-saving action steps. 

• When Lightning Strikes Video prepares you to avoid danger. Watch trailer HERE

• SENSITIVE DATA from federal, state, local partners helps make deployment decisions. Enroll now!

Christians who are AWARE and READY are the ones who will be THERE in any crisis!

_________________________________________________________________________________

CEN ALERTS, Advisories, ACTIVE Threat News, and FAQs provide timely actionable information to help you be AWARE - READY and THERE sharing Christ for such a time as this! 

Weekly FAQs Feature: Spring is Tornado Season - Get Ready

Other Helpful Resources:

ReadyChristian

ReadyChurch

ReadyCity

Active Shooter Preparedness  

Active Shooter: What You Can Do Online Course 

Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships

Employee Vigilance Through the Power of Hello  

Fire as a Weapon

House of Worship Website

Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA)

Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment Tool 

Hometown Security 

If You See Something, Say Something®  

Insider Threat Guide

Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide and Fact Sheet

Protect Your Privacy

Preventing Targeted Violence Against Faith Communities

Protecting Your Church from Vandalism 

Responding to Civil Unrest Guide

Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Places 

Security Guide

Security Fact Sheet

School Safety and Security 

Securing Public Gatherings

Ten Reasons why Churches are Soft Targets

“Be ready to give an answer for the Hope of Christ within you.” 

I Peter 3:15

Keep CEN ACTIVE Threat News coming - prayerfully DONATE Today!