Every organization faces risk, but few are truly ready for crisis. In a recent workshop hosted by Magazine Training International, crisis management expert John Lites offered a clear, values-based approach: effective crisis planning is not about fear; it’s about faithful stewardship.

Too often, leaders assume crises are unlikely, or that preparing for them signals a lack of faith. But John us that real leadership anticipates challenges not because we fear them, but because we are responsible for the people and resources entrusted to us.

“Being a good steward means preparing to lead people well in crisis, not just reacting when it happens.”

So what does faithful, practical crisis preparation look like? The workshop laid out five foundational principles:

1. Duty of care

Every organization has a moral and legal obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of its staff, volunteers, and participants. This includes both physical safety and emotional support. If someone travels on your behalf, your duty of care extends to them. If someone serves under your leadership, they should be confident in your ability to respond if something goes wrong.

2. Crisis policies

Policies aren’t about bureaucracy; they’re about clarity. Your organization should have written plans for specific scenarios: evacuation, natural disasters, leadership failures, online backlash, or even kidnapping in high-risk areas. These policies ensure that everyone knows their role when time is short and decisions are urgent.

3. Risk assessment

What are your most valuable assets? Your people, property, programs, and public reputation. What could jeopardize them? Assessing risk means evaluating both the likelihood and impact of potential crises. This helps prioritize where to focus your planning energy.

4. Contingency planning

Crisis doesn’t wait for a committee meeting. That’s why you need “if-then” planning in place. If a key leader resigns suddenly, then who communicates to staff and stakeholders? If your building is inaccessible, then where will your team work? If a team member is detained abroad, then who contacts authorities?

5. Training

Plans are useless without people who know how to carry them out. That’s why training is essential—for executives, regional directors, and frontline staff. Drills, tabletop exercises, and clear documentation make your plans real and actionable.

Ultimately, the biggest threat may not be a cyberattack or a storm. It may be the temptation to believe a crisis won’t happen to you.

But biblical stewardship requires more than hope. It requires readiness. As Lites emphasized, crisis preparation is about honoring God and protecting those in your care.

**This is based on the workshop “Five crisis management principles every organization should consider” presented by John Lites. You can watch the full workshop on-demand for free.**