CHURCH DEFENSECYBERSECURITY FOR MINISTRY
About Church Defense

Built to Understand the Church.
Equipped to Help Protect It.

Church Experience. Cybersecurity Expertise. Legal Perspective.

Three disciplines, brought together in service of your mission.
Why we exist

Churches Hold More Than Information.
They Hold Trust.

Your congregation trusts you with personal information. Your donors trust you with resources. Your staff and volunteers depend on systems that help them serve.

Church Defense brings complementary experience to that responsibility. We combine an understanding of ministry with technical assessment and legal perspective to help leaders see their risks clearly and take practical steps forward.

The people behind Church Defense

Experience That Works Together.

A shared purpose, with a distinct contribution from each member of the team.

Church & Executive Leadership

Ben Peays

Understanding the mission—and the decisions behind it.

Ben brings ministry leadership, theological training, and business experience to Church Defense. He served as executive director of The Gospel Coalition from 2007 to 2019 and previously led the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding as managing director.

His background also includes founding BlackBox Strategy and serving as CEO of Summer Moon Coffee. That combination of ministry and executive experience shapes his focus: helping church leaders set priorities, steward resources, and turn recommendations into practical decisions.

Ben holds a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a DMin from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, with additional degrees from Trinity, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Wheaton College.

Focus at Church Defense
  • Church leadership
  • Executive strategy
  • Ministry operations
Ministry background
Cybersecurity

Chris Grauel

Turning technical complexity into practical protection.

Chris brings cybersecurity and technology implementation experience to Church Defense through his work with ARK-TOS. His background spans enterprise technology, systems integration, and helping organizations put security considerations into practice.

At Church Defense, his focus is on the systems a ministry relies on: understanding the technical environment, reviewing evidence, identifying weaknesses, and translating findings into clear recommendations. He connects the assessment with the practical work needed to improve protection.

His perspective keeps the conversation grounded in what can be observed, what needs further review, and what a church can reasonably do next.

Focus at Church Defense
  • Technical assessment
  • Security improvements
  • Implementation
Explore ARK-TOS
Legal & Risk Perspective

David Sims

Connecting protection with responsibility.

David is an attorney and principal of BRS Consulting whose work brings together legal, business, and risk considerations. His experience includes confidentiality, governance, and the responsible use of technology in professional settings.

At Church Defense, David brings a legal perspective to the questions that sit alongside technical security: how sensitive information is handled, how responsibilities are defined, and how leaders make informed decisions about risk.

His contribution helps the team recognize when a concern calls for legal attention and connect security priorities with the responsibilities of church leadership.

Focus at Church Defense
  • Confidentiality
  • Governance
  • Risk considerations
A connected approach

Three Perspectives.
One Practical Plan.

A technical finding becomes useful when leadership understands why it matters, who is responsible, and what to do next.

Understand the Ministry.

Start with your people, your priorities, and the way your church operates. Recommendations should fit the ministry they are meant to serve.

Examine the Risks.

Review the agreed systems and evidence. Explain the findings clearly, including what is known and where more information is needed.

Support the Decisions.

Help leadership prioritize improvements, clarify responsibilities, and identify when specialist technical or legal work is appropriate.

How we earn your trust

Clear Findings.
Practical Help.
Your Decisions.

Your assessment belongs to your church. You choose whether improvements are completed by your staff, your existing IT provider, or Church Defense.

Talk with Our Team

Stewardship

Treat security as part of caring for people and the resources entrusted to your ministry.

Clarity

Explain what we observed, what remains unknown, and which next steps deserve attention.

Practicality

Match recommendations to your environment, priorities, and capacity to carry them out.

Accountability

Agree on scope, name responsible people, and verify completed improvements.

Build a Defense Worthy of Your Mission.

Start with a clear view of your risks, a practical plan, and the right preparation for your people.

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