Concilium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry dedicated to strengthening Gospel advance through biblically grounded security, risk, and crisis management. Founded in 2013 by Scott Brawner, a former Army Ranger, pastor, educator, and ministry mobilizer turned theologically trained security professional, and J.D. VerHoeven, a civilian analyst and disciple maker, Concilium equips Christians serving in high-risk environments.
Rooted in Scripture, Concilium provides gospel-centered security training, global risk analysis, security risk management resources, and crisis management consulting and response. We operate from two core convictions: the Gospel is our highest value, and the safety of God’s people on mission is a sacred stewardship. Our team draws from diverse experience across the private, public, and ministry sectors, enabling us to deliver professional, mission-aligned support to Christians serving both locally and globally.
To build capacity and resilience into Gospel advance so others may hear and live.
To see Christians of all ages engaged in serving the Lord with boldness, legitimacy, and competence.
Having worked in mission sending and security endeavors for more than 20 years, Scott is Concilium’s co-founder and senior leader. Scott accepted Jesus as his personal Savior in January of 1987 and served in the United States Army with the First Ranger Battalion. Scott was called to Gospel ministry while on active duty and is a seminary trained, licensed and ordained minister. Scott served seven years as Director of Risk Management for the International Mission Board (IMB) and is Co-founder of the Risk Management Network and Faith Based Working Group at the US Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Professional affiliations include Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), Risk Management Network, American Legion, US Army Ranger Association, NGO Security Network, and the International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA).
With a Master’s of Science in Strategic Intelligence and over 14 years of professional experience, Concilium’s Co-Founder J.D. VerHoeven has spent his entire career serving in Christian ministry. He is passionate about analyzing conflict, crime, and their impacts on Gospel workers both in the United States and internationally.
J.D. leads Concilium’s analytical team, Insight, which has written or edited nearly 2,000 reports on conflict, terrorism, crime, and persecution worldwide since 2010. He is a regular speaker for Christian ministry security conferences and is dedicated to providing open-source threat analysis to support Christian ministries.
Overall, J.D.’s expertise in strategic intelligence and his commitment to serving the Christian community make him a critical member of the Concilium team. Concilium Insight, under J.D.’s leadership, is the premier provider of open-source threat analysis for Christian ministries.
A dedicated missionary and former law enforcement officer with a passion for serving others. Hiram’s journey has taken him from the streets of Minnesota as a patrol officer to the mission fields of East Africa, to the mountains of Colorado.
During his time in Africa, Hiram worked on a church planting team among an unreached people group in Madagascar and also served in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Chad, ensuring the security of missionaries across the continent. Hiram’s dedication to his work and his compassion for others have made him a valuable asset to the communities he has served.
Before his time in missions, Hiram obtained a degree in Criminal Justice and worked as a patrol officer, field training officer, and SWAT sniper. His training and experience in law enforcement have given him a unique perspective on the challenges faced by communities in East Africa and have prepared him to serve in a variety of roles.
Overall, Hiram’s dedication to service, his commitment to his faith, and his unique set of skills and experiences make him a great asset to Concilium and those we serve.
Daniel, a seasoned security professional with a background in law enforcement and a passion for serving his community. Based out of Missouri, Daniel has extensive experience working as a SWAT unit member, for the Department of Corrections, as a patrol officer, and currently serves as a violent crimes detective.
Daniel’s commitment to safety and crisis response training led him to obtain Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) training. His upbringing as the grandson and son of a pastor instilled in him a deep sense of faith involvement, which has lead him to positions such as small group study leader to being the former security director for a multi-campus church. Bringing all this to bear as a valued member of Concilium, Daniel has contributed his expertise in security assessments to ensure the safety of clients and their assets.
Daniel is married with three children and continues to pursue his passion for serving his community through his work with Concilium and beyond