8. Steps to Take During a Crisis

The Bible does not direct Christians to be meek and simply take the consequences of whatever crisis occurs. Instead, we are told to act in response to a crisis knowing that God is by our side. This chapter will provide a concrete method for dealing with a crisis while also stressing the importance of planning and practicing crisis response procedures. The steps below are loosely based upon on Crisis Action Planning (CAP) procedures used by the military when they plan for and respond to a crisis. The steps are simple and are sequenced to ensure that a leader can step through them at a pace that is both deliberate and that allows for rapid response as needed. Before discussing the specific steps to take when dealing with a crisis this chapter will focus on the importance of having a crisis response plan that is assessed and exercised regularly to ensure the plan is up to date and employees are familiar with it. First, I will present an overview of what crisis management researchers have presented as possible models to use for the life cycle of a crisis.