Timeline and Actions to Get Ready for the Drill
Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes
Why Preparation Matters
Safety Sabbath is more than a one-day event—it’s a ministry-wide opportunity to strengthen your church’s ability to respond in an emergency. The more intentional your preparation, the more confident your leaders, volunteers, and members will be on the day of the drill.Preparation also ensures that the drill runs smoothly, lessons are learned, and your church becomes better equipped to protect everyone in your care.
Phase 1: Determine Which Drill Your Church Needs Most
Before choosing a drill scenario for Safety Sabbath, take time to evaluate which emergencies your church is most likely to face and which would have the greatest impact. This ensures your drill is relevant, timely, and builds readiness where you need it most.Step 1 – Risk Identification
List possible emergency scenarios for your church and ministry context, such as:- Fire (building fire, kitchen fire, wildfire)
- Severe weather (tornado, hurricane, flooding, earthquake)
- Medical emergencies
- Missing child
- Active threat
- Utility failure (power outage, water leak)
Step 2 – Risk Ranking Using the Church Risk Matrix
For each scenario, estimate:- Likelihood – How probable is it that this could occur in the next 12 months?
- Impact – If it happened, how severe would the consequences be for people, property, and ministry continuity?
| Likelihood (Y-axis)/Impact (X-axis) | Insignificant | Minor | Moderate | Major | Disastrous |
| 51–100% (Very High) | Low | Medium | High | High | High |
| 31–50% (High) | Low | Medium | Medium | High | High |
| 16–30% (Medium) | Low | Low | Medium | Medium | High |
| 6–15% (Low) | Low | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
| 0–5% (Very Low) | Low | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Scoring:
- Low = Monitor, but not priority for this year’s drill.
- Medium = Consider including in drills or tabletop exercises.
- High = Priority drill scenario for this year.
Step 3 – Risk Recording
Document the scenarios, their likelihood, and impact scores. Keep this record in your Safety Committee binder and update it annually or after major incidents.Step 4 – Risk Monitoring and Early Warning
Identify indicators that could increase the likelihood of certain risks. For example:- Monitor seasonal hazards like severe weather or wildfire conditions.
- Watch for ministry growth areas that change safety needs (e.g., children’s ministry expansion).
Step-by-Step Preparation Timeline
8–10 Weeks Before Safety Sabbath
- Confirm participation and assign a Safety Sabbath Coordinator.
- Use the risk ranking process to choose the drill scenario.
- Set the date (March 29, 2025) and confirm timing within your service schedule.
6–8 Weeks Before Safety Sabbath
- Form your drill planning team.
- Review ARM’s Safety Sabbath toolkit and drill guides.
- Account for members with disabilities or mobility challenges.
4–6 Weeks Before Safety Sabbath
- Walk through the drill.
- Assign roles and responsibilities.
- Communicate with parents about children’s involvement.
2–4 Weeks Before Safety Sabbath
- Begin congregation awareness.
- Conduct a leadership briefing.
- Prepare equipment and supplies.
1 Week Before Safety Sabbath
- Run a mini-rehearsal with volunteers.
- Confirm all logistics.
- Remind the congregation.
Safety Sabbath Day
- Run the drill as planned.
- Observe and take notes.
- Debrief immediately.
Post-Drill Follow-Up
- Share results with the congregation.
- Update emergency plans.
- Report participation to ARM.
Final Encouragement
Preparation for Safety Sabbath isn’t just about one day—it’s about building a culture of safety that lasts all year. The drill is your opportunity to strengthen trust, sharpen skills, and ensure your church is ready to respond with confidence and care.Next Step: Begin your 8–10 week countdown today. Use the Church Risk Matrix and this timeline as your guide, and by Safety Sabbath, your church will be ready to turn practice into preparedness.
