ACSI Cares is our crisis response effort surrounding tragedies facing our member schools.
PRAY
Pray for the Abundant Life Christian School community.
GIVE
Donate to the ACSI Cares Crisis Response Fund.
Donate to the ACSI Cares Crisis Response Fund online or text CARES to (719) 631-2787. Big or small, your generosity is valued.
UPDATES
Read updates about the Abundant Life Christian School tragedy.
Update 01/10/2025
Abundant Life Christian School shared the good news that staff and students have returned to school following the tragic incident that took place on its campus in December. School leadership shared that they are “beyond grateful to ACSI sister schools who have reached out and shared messages of encouragement and hope.” In addition, they shared that they ”thank everyone from the ACSI leadership to schools around the globe who have been praying,” and they need the prayers. While their doors are reopened, their hearts are still hurting and are on the long road of recovery. They shared, “The blessing of being part of the body of Christ has never been so dear as it has these past weeks in knowing that while we were down, you all were upholding us to the Lord. On behalf of the faculty, staff, students, and families of Abundant Life, we thank you. Know your prayers are working! God is so very good and He is our comforter, protector, and joy even within our sorrow.”
12/16/2024
Dr. Taylor ACSI President & CEO, expressed, “ACSI is grieved by the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, an accredited member in Wisconsin. We are praying for those who were injured, the families of the victims, and the entire school community, knowing that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. We are thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their help.”
RESOURCES
View school safety resources.
Member Resources
School Security Presentation By Katherine Schweit
ACSI Public Policy & Advocacy Summit 09/16/24
For Member Schools: Please review the School Security Presentation that Katherine Schweit provided at the Public Policy and Legal Advocacy Summit in Washington D.C., in September 2024. Katherine Schweit worked as an FBI Special Agent executive, a prosecutor, and a journalist before settling down as a full-time writer, professor, and security consultant.
School Safety, Part One
School Safety, Part Two
This page contains member-only resources. Videos will populate once a member logs in. Log in to access.
Free Resources
- Podcast on how to stop mass shootings
- Podcast on how to avert school shootings
- Blog on how to talk about guns and firearm violence with your kids
- Blog on how to inform your family on school shootings
- Focus on the Family article covering how to address mass shootings with your kids
- "Supporting Children in the Wake of Trauma" article
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network was created to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events.
Resources For Purchase
For Teachers:
- Family Grief 2.0 - https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education/family-grief-2-0/
- Hope and Healing For Grief Workbook - https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education/hope-healing-for-grief-a-guide-to-healing-through-loss/
- Trauma Informed Care and Coaching - https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education/trauma-informed-coaching-101-201/
- Building Resilient Children 2.0 - https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education/building-resilient-children-2-0/
For Counselors:
- Assessment and Treatment of Trauma (not directed towards kids, but gives background info) - https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education/assessment-and-treatment-of-trauma-2-0/
- Grief and Loss - https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education/grief-and-loss-counseling/
- Crisis Response Training - https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education/specialization-track-grief-loss-counseling-copy/
For Everyone:
- Suicide Prevention Training - https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education/youth-hope-focused-3-r-hf3r-suicide-prevention-training/
ASK AN EXPERT
Locate experts in school security.
As you navigate this difficult time, we are here to help you locate experts in the school security field who can guide you and answer your questions as they arise. Below you will find a list of ACSI partners who can provide a level of specific expertise according to your need.
School Security:
- Sentinel Solutions – Training and consulting on school security.
- Devin McClure is a true expert in the field with the highest level of certification one can receive. His email is: dgmcclure@sentinelthreatmanagement.com
- Sentinel Solutions overview
Blue Point Alert – Alert system for emergencies.
- Dave Ochs – davidochs@bluepointalert.com
ACSI School Security resources: https://www.acsi.org/legal/policy_resources/articles
Fundraising Partners:
- Mission Advancement – Angel DeLeon adeleon@missionadvancement.com
- Dickerson Bakker – Melanie Griffin mgriffin@dickersonbakker.com
Spiritual Support:
- God Listens Prayer App – Dan Watts dwatts@hopemediagroup.com
Emotional Support:
- Friendzy – Joy Roberts joy@friendzy.co
Programs for Bullying
- The Protectors – Paul Coughlin paul@theprotectors.org
Mental Health Support
- https://aacc.net/ – American Association of Christian Counselors