Active Threats in Church: Lessons from a Near Miss

What if your church could be both secure and welcoming? Join me, Todd Rhoades, on the Healthy Church Staff Podcast as we take a candid look at the unsettling reality of active threats in places of worship. Inspired by a recent hoax active shooter incident at First Woodway Baptist Church in Texas, we explore vital insights with Pastor Matt Waldrop. He shares firsthand experience on the importance of having a robust security plan and a prepared team, underscoring the value of readiness before a crisis strikes. This episode offers a profound exploration of key strategies that every church should consider to ensure the safety of their congregation without compromising their welcoming atmosphere.

Dive into a conversation filled with actionable advice on how churches can elevate their security measures. We discuss the importance of investing in training and technology, empowering staff and volunteers, and building strong relationships with local law enforcement. Listen to Pastor Waldrop's stories about balancing safety with hospitality, and learn how to create a security framework that reassures your community. Whether it's establishing a connection with the local police or maintaining a warm environment, this discussion is a must-listen for church leaders committed to fostering a safe and welcoming space for worship.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:10

Hi there, we are going to talk today about a topic that's unfortunately becoming all too familiar active threats in our churches. Hi there, my name is Todd Rhodes and you're listening to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast. I'm also one of the co-founders over at chemistrystaffingcom. Recently, there was a church in Texas. I was just reading about this. It's a freaky story A hoax, active shooter call.

Speaker 1: 0:35

Now, thankfully, it was just that a hoax at a church. But, as Pastor Matt Waldrop from First Woodway Baptist Church shared in the news article I was reading, it forced them to confront a reality that many of us would rather avoid. This incident, while it was a false alarm, provides some valuable lessons for all of us, and the pastor highlighted the importance of having a plan in place before something happens. They had a security team ready to respond. Something happens. They had a security team ready to respond, and that preparedness brought a sense of calm amidst the chaos that they experienced, and you can Google to find out exactly what happened there if you want to. So what can we learn from this kind of near miss? Five things I've got here for you today. First of all and this is a big one don't assume that it can't happen to you. Even a church in a safe community can be targeted. I remember an actual church shooting a few years ago. That was a church in a tiny community. It was like a white picket fence steepled church in the middle of nowhere and there was some family issues going on and I believe it was an ex-husband that went in and shot a bunch of people. So don't assume. You know what happens when you assume. But don't assume that it can't happen to you, because it can. It can happen anywhere. Second invest in training and invest in technology. And First Woodway had invested in security cameras and a system that allowed them to quickly communicate with the entire congregation, and those tools provided to be proved to be invaluable during the incident. So invest in training, make sure you have that team around. Make sure you have the security cameras and the technology in place to identify any kind of threat that may be imminent or anything that might be a brew okay. So don't assume it can't happen to you.

Speaker 1: 2:31

Number one. Number two invest in training and technology. Number three empower your people. Make sure your staff and volunteers know what to do in an emergency. Consider that basic training in situational awareness and de-escalation techniques. Make sure you have a team, a security team, those that are watching for anything that might be suspicious or anything that might not be normal. Make sure that you have people in place to do that. It's really vital these days to keep everyone safe. Here's an important one, too.

Speaker 1: 3:04

Number four is build relationship with local law enforcement. Pastor Waldrop emphasized the importance of having a strong connection with the local police, and this allows for, first of all, faster response times and better coordination in a crisis, but it also will just help even if you have an officer present at some of your services. This will help give reassurance to your people that you are watching out for them. Make sure that your local police department and fire department have a schematic of the layout of your building and the entrances and exits and all of that. So build those relationships with local law enforcement.

Speaker 1: 3:44

And then, lastly, balance security with a welcoming environment. I've been in churches where, honestly, the security made me feel. The presence of security made me feel a little unwelcome and a little bit on edge. So, while we need to be prepared, we don't want to turn our churches into a fortress, okay, so find ways to maintain a welcoming atmosphere while still prioritizing safety. I was in a church that it wasn't a large church, but it was very obvious that the senior pastor had one or two security people around him and they did not look friendly. It was not a welcoming environment for someone who wanted to meet their pastor on a Sunday morning. It could be very as a matter of fact, it was very intimidating. So here's your bottom line the hoax that happened at that Baptist church in Texas. It can be a stark reminder that we need to be prepared for the unthinkable. Nobody ever thinks that it's ever going to happen to us, but it happens somewhere and us is someone. So take action today by reviewing your church's security plan.

Speaker 1: 4:56

If you don't have one man, you got to get one. Put it on your agenda. You need to have something in place and invest in the training and technology, build those relationships with local law enforcement. And if you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure as to where to start, remember you're not alone. Reach out to me. Podcast at chemistrystaffingcom. We've got some people on our team that can help you work through that security plan or at least connect you with some resources and experts that can help you navigate this challenging issue. So can reach out to me anytime. Podcast at chemistry staff. Hope this is helpful and be safe out there. It's a crazy world.