If you’ve read Parts 1 and 2 of this trilogy, you already know the bad news: the 8,000-pound gorilla is real, he’s cranky, and he doesn’t respect “No Soliciting” signs on church doors. Granted, that might be a slightly indelicate way of phrasing it; but it sums it up simply for anyone to understand. Part 1 walked us through where this monster came from; not only decades of ideological warfare, but centuries; global terrorism, and the slow realization that “it could never happen here” was always wishful thinking. Part 2 dragged us into the present, where foreign terrorists, homegrown haters, and deeply broken people keep proving that sanctuaries, schools, and synagogues are not off-limits.
So now we’re left with an uncomfortable but unavoidable question: What do we actually do about it? Not in theory, not in some committee meetings over the next five months; but practically, in our congregations, with our people, in our buildings, now.
That’s what Part 3 is about: forming teams, preparing minds, and reacting under fire in a way that honors God, protects the flock, and doesn’t pretend that “thoughts and prayers” are a substitute for planning and action. Planning for it won’t make it happen, but failing to plan and not following through could make it a lot worse. The absence of your body and soul could be the addition of terror and tragedy.
Coming to grips with reality
This part will be many things to many people. An eye opener; a dose of reality; old news; common sense; enraging; common sense; I could go on. Some of you will tune out. Some will hang on to every word. You may agree, or staunchly disagree. But regardless of your thoughts, hopes and opinions, reality does not change based on our comfort with it.
Action is quicker and comes before reaction. Whoever initiates an action, an attack, has the advantage of surprise, and takes the initiative. Preparation does not bring on nor eliminate that reality, but it narrows the gap. A lack of foresight and planning will unwittingly foster reactions of panic, confusion and a literal paralysis which serves only the aggressor to the great detriment of their intended targets; the flock you are guarding.
Once an attack begins, any consideration that such should not happen must be tossed aside; dropped in an instant. Those conversations belong to another day. It’s now time to act to minimize, deflect, defend or even attack in preservation of life.
…a victim in the face of danger
Whether or not guns should be allowed in church; these opinions are meaningless to those willing to brandish theirs, threaten with them or worse. This is when defining the ability to answer a deadly force with an effective defensive force becomes a critically important decision.
Preparation left only to prayer and faith will likely fall shockingly short in the direct face of an attack. This is not, in any way, an admonishment of prayer. Far from it. Prayer is central to faith, and an important part of your overall preparation; but insufficient as the lone component.
It’s also easy to rely on the statistical probability that your little church of 76 or so worshipers in ‘Average-Town, USA’ is probably not the target of the ‘Alien Liberation Front’ from Mars. But statistical probabilities mean nothing to the reality of a victim in the face of danger, and history has shown these tragedies can happen anywhere.
When preparing against potential attacks and the tragedy they bring, your aim should be to deter and deflect, and for casualties to be as low as possible. This means it’s your responsibility ahead of time to calculate the best way to avoid tragedy altogether, or minimize it when it occurs. This is not only a faithful approach for a place of worship; it’s the ethical, legal and moral foundation that should be in place, and will be examined in great detail both publicly, privately and professionally after any such a major event. Prepare with that in mind, and document your progress. Our calling requires presence, not retreat. Preparation is the price and responsibility of faithful leaders in today’s world.
Thought provoking and somewhat controversial words, but honest and real considerations vital for a purposeful and practical course of preparation. Working with your congregation, gently familiarize everyone with your team, your plans and procedures. We don’t want to turn our churches into bunkers; to form religious militias; put up walls and bar the door. Closing our churches eliminates these threats, which can never happen as our doors must remain open, along with our hearts, and minds and eyes, as we welcome the faithful into the safety of our sanctuary. Working as one, this is how you bring people together; put a system in place, minimize panic, and narrow the gap between the start of an attack and finding safety from it as quickly as possible.
Steps we can all take
The primary thrust of this three-part series is the threat of terrorism, whether through lone wolf style attackers, or more organized terror groups. But as we consider the best way to prepare for them, let’s keep our feet on the ground and remember to cover the basics. Before we formulate plans for the worst, let’s make sure we have the basics covered. For any place of worship, there are common sense measures we all take for everyday life, and this is an appropriate time to check everything is in order, starting with doors and windows.
Doors and windows.
Are all doors and windows functioning as they should, and easy to operate? With people trying to escape a hazard, emergency exits can be a bottleneck. They will help if they work smoothly, but may hinder if they don’t. Do operational windows operate, or are they painted shut, or simply don’t work because they haven’t been opened in years? Is the only way through by breaking the glass? Can you lock the doors while the service is underway, or at least limit access? The doors to the sanctuary? The doors to Children’s Church? These are the basics, your physical foundation, and the responsibility of all organizations in the care of a facility where many people attend.
Fire extinguishers and medical
Naturally, fire extinguishers should be operational, regularly serviced and tagged accordingly, plentiful, and obvious for all to see. As we saw last September, 2025, at the attack of the LDS church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, fire was intentionally set and used to destroy. Medical equipment such as a defibrillator should also be serviced as their cartridges have expiration dates as they do too. They should also be prominently displayed and easily obtained when needed. Does your church have a ‘Stop the Bleed’ medical kit, or other basic medical supplies that are up to date, and easily available? Before the need arises, find those in your congregation with medical training.
These matters, doors and windows, fire extinguishers and medical supplies, are some of the basics we should always take care of and maintain. Naturally, there are others such as surveillance cameras, burglar alarms, fire alarms, trip hazards, and parking lot control, for a start. Taking care of these is all part of what a good facility manager and safety team leader, or your pastor, should be in tune with.
The Safety Team
Does your place of worship have an official safety team? An unofficial one? Or is this responsibility carried by a lead pastor or manager? Given the realities we face today, someone must take ownership of this role. Even in churches without a formal team, there are usually recognized leaders or experienced individuals who can be relied upon during emergencies, and ideally, they have been given at least an inferred understanding that they may need to step forward when necessary.
That said, a safety team is strongly advisable for all places of worship. In small churches this may be one or two people; in larger churches it may involve a small staff supported by trained volunteers or current and former law enforcement professionals. How to form, staff, and operate such teams will be addressed elsewhere at Faith Guards.
There is an important distinction between a practiced safety team and an informal or unprepared group. A dedicated team has defined roles, has considered likely scenarios, and has given thought to how it will respond when something goes wrong. An unofficial group, by contrast, may consist of well-meaning individuals who have been given a nod to act if needed, but who lack training, planning, or shared expectations. While not always the case, pre-planning in this second group is often minimal.
The great majority of situations churches encounter are not true emergencies. A medical issue, a heated argument, or the smell of smoke usually allows time to observe and respond thoughtfully. In those cases, either group may perform adequately. The difference becomes critical, however, when the event is sudden and violent.
Proper planning presents positive pay-offs
Imagine fifteen minutes into a service, gunshots erupt from the narthex. A practiced team is far more likely to act decisively; locking down, directing evacuation, or responding in accordance with prior training. An unprepared group must decide everything in the moment: what to do, how to do it, and who takes the lead. That delay and confusion can cost lives. If I were a betting man, I would wager that a prepared team facing the same scenario would save more lives than an unprepared one; and that is the point. Proper planning presents positive pay-offs
reversing the well-known problem of the Five-P’s: Poor Planning Persistently Presents Problems. In moments of crisis, no planning can become an obstacle in itself.
Pass it along
Once you have a team and a plan, the next step is educating your congregation. For some, this can be unsettling, so it’s important to do it gradually and calmly rather than all at once. You know your people best; the key is to introduce awareness without alarm, avoiding information overload and ensuring there is no known imminent threat as these conversations take place.
What everyone should understand is straightforward:
- Maintain situational awareness: Pay attention to your surroundings and note anything unusual.
- Know the exits: Identify at least two nearby escape routes whenever you enter a building and a public space.
- Have a mental plan: Consider in advance how you might respond in an emergency.
- Run if possible: If a safe escape path exists, evacuate immediately and don’t delay.
- Prevent entry: Warn others away from danger areas when you can.
- Call 911 when safe: Provide clear information about location, threats, and injuries.
- Hide if necessary: Secure and barricade a room, silence devices, and stay out of sight.
- Fight only as a last resort: If escape and hiding are impossible and life is in immediate danger, act decisively to stop the threat; this will be discussed further later.
- Cooperate with law enforcement: Keep hands visible and follow instructions.
- Seek help afterward: Report for medical aid and access support following the incident.
Mental Readiness and Prepared Presence
Before we move into the moment an attack begins, we need to address mental preparation. If we’ve already taken the prior steps; establishing responsibility, planning, training, and communicating with our congregation, we’ve likely spent time thinking through both best- and worst-case scenarios. What would it look like if something happened? What would it sound like? Have we done enough? What would I do in that instant? These are not morbid questions; they are necessary ones, and they should be considered ahead of time rather than for the first time under stress.
As a police officer, mental preparation was a daily discipline. On patrol, I constantly ran scenarios in my mind; planning what I could or would do if faced with situations requiring immediate reaction or critical decisions. That mental rehearsal, combined with formal training, reading, experience, and guidance from other officers, directly affected my ability to perform under pressure. I worked intentionally to be mentally ready, knowing that hesitation or panic in the moment could have serious consequences.
Police officers deal with emergencies routinely and often appear to respond effortlessly. In reality, that ability is built over time through preparation and repetition. The same principle applies here. The goal is not perfection, but readiness, reducing the chance of freezing or panic and increasing the likelihood of a calm, decisive response that protects others.
This preparation must also extend beyond mindset to presence. Even in churches with limited resources, a planned and attentive presence changes outcomes. Ideally, a uniformed officer or security professional supplements a volunteer team, but where budgets don’t allow that, a church-based safety team can still provide meaningful protection.
In a typical service, this may look simple. Arrive early, checking in with leadership, walking the campus and parking lot, observing entrances as people arrive, limiting access points once services begin, and maintaining awareness throughout the service and dismissal. Maybe one person watching the flow outside, another positioned inside with a clear view of the sanctuary; both remaining welcoming yet observant.
This is not about rigid checklists or tactical perfection. It is about creating the conditions where unusual behavior is noticed early, concerns are communicated quickly, exits remain usable, and people are already in place to respond. Churches vary widely in size and layout, and these practices should be adapted accordingly. But the underlying truth remains: a prepared and attentive presence gives you time, options, and awareness that simply do not exist otherwise.
That presence, combined with mental readiness, forms the protective layer around those who have come to worship. It allows threats to be noticed sooner, warnings to be issued faster, and responses to begin before chaos fully takes hold.
And that brings us to what happens when all of this preparation is suddenly tested.
Because despite our hopes and prayers, there may come a moment when the planning ends, the noise begins, and decisions are no longer theoretical. In Part 3B, we step directly into that moment; the first sound that doesn’t belong, the first second when everything changes, and the choices that follow when evil enters the room.