By Dennis James
Security of three campuses can be monitored from one location, even from one’s home.
Victory World Church is one of the fastest-growing multicultural churches in America, with a main campus in Norcross, GA, and two satellite campuses in the greater Atlanta area.
With more than 10,000 people coming to the campuses each weekend, security is a big concern.
In researching our needs, we turned to Atlanta-based Remote Protection Systems for a cost-effective security solution for the new sites. We took everything we learned and incorporated them into the Victory North and Hamilton Mill sites at the beginning of construction.
Room for growth
“Victory World wants the latest technology to protect its property, and they also work hard to stay within their budget,” says Scott Hightower, president of RPS. “We put in a Honeywell system that integrates video surveillance, intrusion detection and user-friendly access control. It’s perfect for their needs now, and it will expand with them as they continue to grow.”
Hightower recommended a combination of high-definition dome cameras and high-resolution day/night fixed cameras to provide complete coverage of the church properties during the day and at night. Surveillance footage is retained by digital video recorders, and access to the buildings is easily handled with access control software.
We have 850 staff and volunteers who have access to different areas; plus, people are constantly changing roles. Someone might leave employment with Victory but continue to volunteer, which might change areas where they need access. I used to spend a lot of time making new cards and deleting old ones. The Honeywell system makes it easy to update a card right away.
In addition to having the sites monitored by a central station, church officials use a web-based access control to manage the integrated access, intrusion and video systems remotely from their homes.
Here in Atlanta we have a lot of storms each fall, and our old security system would go crazy. I’d be out in the storm at 2 a.m., driving around the church and checking doors. Now, if the alarm goes off in the middle of the night I can just check my home computer. I don’t have to get out and drive over.
Access cards used
Another benefit is the ease of tracking the numerous access cards issued. Hightower showed church security staff how to make a temporary card for someone, for example, on the first day of the month that will automatically expire on the last day of that month.
The investment in Honeywell security helps us fulfill our mission to spread the Gospel, and also supports our commitment to being good financial stewards. The installation at Victory North gave church officials a chance to see what the integrated technology could do and gave them a head start on ideas for the new construction. We’re looking forward to using the system for a long time. Best of all, when construction is finished, staff will be able to monitor all three campuses from one site.
Dennis James is director of security with Victory World Church, Norcross, GA. www.victoryatl.com
