Is The Need Real for Church Security?

The need for a church security team is real. People always make comments like “Why do you need security in a church”? Or, they make a statement like, “God will protect us, we don’t need security”. Our answer to both of those questions is that many Christians are naïve in how God really works.

Sadly, most people are sheep and do not realize the need for personal protection. So, why would they think for a minute that you need a church security team in church? Just because people don’t see the need doesn’t mean that there isn’t a need.

If you look throughout the Bible, there are plenty of examples of violence and the need to protect yourself. Jesus said in Luke 22:36, “If you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one”. Why would Jesus tell his disciples to be armed with a weapon if there was not a need to do so? Jesus knew the world would not always welcome the disciples and that they might have to defend themselves from being harmed.

One of the biggest reason that you need a security team is to protect the children. Contrary to popular belief, sex crimes in the church against children is the biggest issue that your church will face. Sadly, because most people teaching church security really do not know what they are doing, you do not hear much about this topic. To be quite frank, if you have security in the sanctuary but not covering the children’s area, your team is not properly trained and or do not have their priorities in the right place. Now, if this is the case, then you need to take the necessary measures to protect the children because you have now been enlightened as to what the main issue is in your church. Anyone who is not willing to protect the children FIRST, has no business in any type of leadership position. Yes, even the pastor.



We can write all kinds of things about the need and even provide you with statistics and you might still be in disbelief for the need. What we are going to do is to provide you with real articles from various news sources, and then you can decide. Contrary to popular belief, there are hundreds of incidents across the nation that do not make “national news”.

Robberies

Selma, AL – Pastor and Two Deacons Threatened and Robbed at Gunpoint after a Church Meeting. click here to read this article

Conyers, GA – Two people robbed at gunpoint click here to read this article

FORT MYERS, FL. – Man robs escort at church. click here to read this article

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Woman steals 500k from church. click here to read this article

Hostage Situations

Bucyrus, TX – Man faces charges after holding 3 people hostage in a church click here to read about this article

Assaults

San Fernando, CA – Pastor attacked by former church member. click here to read this article

Knife Attacks

Atlanta, GA – Man stabbed repeatedly outside church click here to read about this article

San Diego, CA – Man stabbed while sleeping in a church. click here to read this article

Salinas, California – Pastor fatally stabbed by parishioner. click here to read this article

DES MOINES, Iowa – Woman stabs church deacon with a knife. click here to read this article

Bowling Green, KY – Man Sentenced 10 Years in Prison for Stabbing his Father in Church. click here to read this article

Highland, CA – Man stabbed after church gathering Asiasiga Teloma was having an argument with a child following a church gathering. A man stepped in to intervene and got into a fight with Teloma. Family members were able to separate the two. Teloma left but returned shortly after and stabbed the man several times. He fled but was caught a short distance from the church. The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for stab wounds to his back and head. click here to read this article

MARION, N.C. – Joshua Betke came to a worship service at East Marion Baptist church and asked to speak to the man he said was his case worker. The man agreed and he and Betke stepped outside the church. Betke then took out a knife and attempted to stab the man in the chest. A church security member shoved Betke away and drew out his concealed handgun. He ordered Betke to drop the knife and get on the ground. Church members were able to keep Betke down until police arrived to arrest him. click here to read this article

Church Shootings

Paris, TN – Man pulls gun on a pastor. click here to read this article

Neshoba County, Mississippi – Woman found shot dead inside church. click here to read this article

Neshoba County. Mississippi – National manhunt is on for suspect who shot woman in church.click here to read this article

Des Moines, IA – One dead and three injured after shooting in church parking lot. Approximately 65% of incidents take place in the parking lot of a church. All the more reason to have a trained and armed church security team. click here to read this article

Kansas City, MO – Greeter shot during church service click here to read this article

Church Shooter, Dylan Roof, has been sentenced to death. The jury came to a unanimous verdict in less than three hours. Roof represented himself in the penalty phase so that lawyers would not present mental health evaluations. According to Roof, “there is nothing wrong with him mentally.” He expressed no remorse for his actions and even said, “I felt like I had to do it. I still feel like I had to do it.” click here to read this article

AUBURN, Ky. – Man shot in parking lot of church. click here to read this article

Austin, Texas – Armed man shot and killed outside church.Police had been called when two men, one with a gun, were in a fight. When they arrived the man with the gun had run off. He the returned with a shotgun and an AR-15 assault rifle. He fired shots in the air before making his way to Hope Presbyterian Church where he continued to fire. Police spent 13 minutes attempting to get the man to drop his weapons. He refused so the police shot and killed him.click here to read this article

Neshoba County. Mississippi – National manhunt is on for suspect who shot woman in church. click here to read this article

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Man Shot in Church Parking Lot. click here to read this article

SIERRA VISTA, AZ – Man arrested for shooting at a church. click here to read this article

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Shots Fired in Church Parking Lot. click here to read this article

PHOENIX – Ex-convict sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Catholic priest. click here to read this article

GLADEVILLE, TN – Gun Discharges in Between Easter Sunday Services A gun accidently discharged in between the Easter Sunday services at The Glade Church. click here to read this article

Miami, Florida – Church Super Bowl Party halted after shots fired.click here to read this article

Sex Crimes In The Church

PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI – Youth Pastor charged with sexually assaulting teen girl Blaine Faircloth has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl during a church trip five years ago. Faircloth was a youth minister at the Riverview Church of God. He first began coercing the teen into a sexual relationship on a trip to Bangkok. It continued on a plane ride to Chicago and then again on a train ride that began in Chicago and passed through Ann Arbor. Faircloth fondled the girl multiple times. click here to read this article

Norristown, Pa. – Church daycare worker charged with sexually abusing 3-year-old girl. click here to read this article

LAS VEGAS, NV – A former foster dad and church youth worker volunteer has been arrested for child sexual assault. click here to read this article

Lenexa, KS – Two sisters settle lawsuit with church where they were sexually abused. click here to read this article

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES- Man attempts to sexually assault woman at church click here to read this article

Reading, PA – Man sexually assaulted teen girl at church function Sadly… sex crimes at churches are more likely to happen than anything else. It isn’t anything that we like to think about. However, they DO happen. We must FIRST protect the children, then worry about protecting others. click here to read this article

DECATUR, IL – Former Pastor Faces Sexual Assault Charges. click here to read this article

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES- Man attempts to sexually assault woman at church click here to read this article

GREENWOOD, S.C. – Church Volunteer Accused of Sex Crimes with a Minor. click here to read this article

OKLAHOMA CITY – Man makes advances towards a young girl at church.Joel Cox was arrested after police were called about a man exposing himself to a child. The 10-year-old girl told her mother that Cox approached her in the children’s room at the church, grabbed her head and “showed his privates.” The pastor was immediately notified and the police were called. Surveillance video showed probable evidence that the young girl was telling the truth. click here to read this article

PAHOKEE, FL – Andre Brown is facing charges for the rape of a 13-year-old girl in a church while attending a funeral. click here to read this article

HAMILTON, OH – Former NFL Player Exposes Himself at Church. click here to read this article

Events At Church

Fight breaks out in church during graduation. It is your churches job to provide security at EVERY function at your church. Don’t rely on anyone including the police. You know the facility better than anyone and you should make preparations to keep people safe. click here to read this article

Madison County, IL – Man Assualted at Church Fundraiser. click here to read this article

BIRMINGHAM, AL– Gunfire at church carnival Cathedral of the Cross A.O.H. Church of God was holding a festival over the weekend with about 900 people in attendance. An apparent fight took place at the festival which led to gunfire. click here to read this article

MISC

Beckley, WV – Man takes his own life inside church. click here to read this article

RUTHERFORDTON — Trial to begin for church members accused of beating demons out of people click here to read this article

SAN ANTONIO- Woman runs to safety in a church after being raped. click here to read this article

SPINDALE, N.C. – Church under investigation for abuse and kidnapping. click here to read this article

BRYAN, Tex.- Car crashed into church during domestic dispute. click here to read this article

CINNAMINSON, N.J. – Church vandalism believed to be bias crimes. click here to read this article

Ashley, PA – Three suspects in Manhunt hiding underneath a church. click here to read this article

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Church damaged after being struck by lightning. click here to read this article

Kansas City, Mo. – Pastor beats elderly church member. A 75-year-old-man went to speak with his pastor about the safety of a handicap ramp leading up to Mount Olive Baptist Church. Pastor Floyd Sullivan asked him to go to the church office. As they spoke the Sullivan struck the man on his face causing him to fall. He then proceeded to kick him and placed his foot on the elderly man’s throat. An associate pastor stepped in to stop the attack. The victim is undergoing physical therapy for his injuries. click here to read this article

MEMPHIS, TN – Shots fired into church. click here to read this article

Olathe, KS – Shooting across the street from a church You need to be aware of what is around your church and what events are taking place at your church. click here to read this article

PINE BLUFF, AK – Shooting near church sanctuary. click here to read this article

MONTEBELLO, CA – Man crashes into car in church parking lot after being shot. click here to read this article

LEIMERT PARK, CA – Man drives into church after being shot. click here to read this article

MESA, AZ – Church worker assaulted by man with a bat. click here to read this article

Denver, Colorado – Illegal immigrant takes sanctuary in church. click here to read this article

Bradley County, TN – Church burglarized and set on fire. click here to read this article

NIXA, MO – Man kills himself outside a church. click here to read this article

DENISON, Texas – Woman Seeks Refuge in Church After Violent Sexual Assault. click here to read this article

CHINO, California – Two people killed by a car in church parking lot. click here to read this article

Brooklyn, NY – Man threatens to kill nun in church Derrick Gadson walked into Co-Cathedral of St. Jospeh and made his way into the sanctuary. He approached Sister Maria Amador who was praying. He told her, “I don’t believe in this (her religion) because you don’t help poor people.” He wanted her to renounce her faith and when she refused he became angry and threatened to kill her. She got up and ran away and then Gadson ran from the church. He has since been arrested. click here to read this article

ST. CHARLES, MO. – Two people injured at church fireworks display Bogey Hills Baptist Church was putting on their annual fireworks show by the Gillespie Brothers when a misfire occurred. They believe that a fuse shot back and caught the rest of their inventory causing a fire in the tent. The misfire also caused injuries to two people. A 6-year-old girl was taken to the hospital and treated for minor burns. A second person did not call an ambulance until she was home. click here to read this article