For decades, most churches operated on a simple assumption:

A house of worship is sacred ground. A place of peace. A place of refuge. A place to freely worship. Sadly, that assumption has to change.

Fortunately for some churches, it already did.

  • In February 2024, a woman opened fire at Lakewood Church in Houston, one of the nation’s largest megachurches, before being shot and killed by off-duty law enforcement officers working security at the church. The presence of trained and armed security prevented a mass-casualty attack inside the crowded sanctuary.
  • In December 2019 at West Freeway Church of Christ in Texas, a gunman opened fire during services. Two worshippers were killed before volunteer security team leader Jack Wilson, a longtime U.S. LawShield member, returned fire, stopping the attack within seconds.
  • In September 2023 in Virginia, a man armed with a handgun, two loaded magazines and two knives was arrested inside the vestibule of Park Valley Church during services after a concerned civilian saw alarming social media posts and alerted police. He was later sentenced to 25 years in prison. The church had a robust security team, but fortunately, authorities were able to stop things before the team had to. Few people inside the church even knew what was going on.

Few of these incidents saw perfect outcomes. But they were all far better than they would have been without trained and prepared responders on the scene. Contrast that with times when no organized security team was present such as when 26 people were killed at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in 2017, to date still the deadliest church shooting in America, or nine murdered during Bible study at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015, by the very man churchgoers warmly welcomed into their church.

Preparedness does not keep evil away. But it tilts the likelihood of prevention and more survivors when it shows up. The Family Research Council tracked 415 acts of hostility against churches in 2024, including vandalism, arson and threats, reflecting a broad pattern of attacks and intimidation targeting houses of worship, including the Lakewood Church shooting.

While few people want to think of their church being targeted, wishing and praying aren’t always enough. Preparedness is essential and more churches are waking up. But it’s not just about guns. Far from it. Church safety training emphasizes fundamentals: access control, defined volunteer roles, communication plans and coordination with local law enforcement.

Security teams aren’t about fear. They are about stewardship. And protecting people now belongs right alongside protecting doctrine, children’s ministries and finances. If your house of worship isn’t currently discussing security concerns, consider being the one to start the dialogue. You can also attend a Church Safety Fundamentals seminar in your area to help begin the discussion.

Preparedness doesn’t need to be at odds with your faith. In today’s age, they go need to go hand in hand.