The Easter celebrations are here, and we're gearing up for the large crowds that flock to our campuses. We affectionately call them "Christers", folks who typically attend only on Christmas and Easter. I have no issue with that. I really don’t have any problem with Christers because this may be the only sermon they hear for the year, but it might be the right sermon for the year.
 
In church safety, we treat these high-attendance weekends seriously. We review and update policies, run refreshers on crowd management, and go "all hands on deck" to keep everyone safe so they can fully experience the Easter message.
 
This year, our church will hold all our services outdoors under a large tent, which introduces additional safety considerations beyond what we usually encounter. However, rather than adopting the alarmist stance of some security experts who have claimed that our risk level has escalated from High (Orange) to Severe (Red), implying an imminent attack, we will continue with our established approach to safeguarding our congregation and not let fear drive our decisions.
 
Lakeview is one of the most peaceful campuses I've experienced. The worship center features clear glass modular doors that offer stunning views of the lake from three sides. On Sunday mornings, it's not unusual to spot deer and turkeys nearby. A scenic trail circles the lake, dotted with benches every hundred yards, perfect spots to pause, reflect, and connect with God.
 
Two benches sit directly behind the main worship center, visible during services. Our standing policy is clear: no one sits there while the pastor is on stage, to avoid distractions. Last Easter, during the final service, I got word that a man was on one of those prohibited benches. I was asked to tell him to move. I advised against pressing the issue mid-service, as it would have caused more distraction than allowing him to stay. I then positioned myself discreetly to observe, ready to signal him away from the worship center if he stood up.
 
After the service ended, curiosity drew me over. I asked if he was okay. With a warm smile, he replied, "Why wouldn't I be okay?"
 
I explained that on Easter, most people attend the service, so seeing someone alone outside seemed unusual.
 
He responded gently, "I doubted you'd let my kind into your church."
 
I am really curious now. I asked him, "What do you mean by 'your kind'?"
 
"I'm a Muslim."
 
Here's your church safety scenario: Experts warn we're in a Severe Threat Environment; an attack is imminent. You've just encountered a Muslim on campus during Easter services, sitting alone outside the worship center instead of attending. Respond! (Some of you will get the joke.)
 
He continued, "I brought Christian friends to the service. We're all going out for lunch afterward. I didn't think I'd be welcome inside, so I sat here enjoying the day while I waited."
 
The Holy Spirit whispered in my ear that it was time for evangelism.
 
I extended my hand. "I'm Jim." He shook it warmly. I told him he was wrong. Lakeview welcomes everyone. In that moment, I imagined he might never have heard the Gospel or the resurrection story clearly. What if the Spirit moved him to ask questions, leading to salvation? What an Easter miracle that would have been.
 
But then I thought: What if I'd approached him during the service, told him he couldn't sit there, and asked him to leave if he wasn't attending? Without knowing his story, he might have concluded he was being singled out because he's Muslim, on Easter Sunday, no less, in a "Severe Red" environment where "sleeper cells are everywhere." Threat inflation leads to decision degradation.
 
I've been in church safety for over 18 years. Not every unfamiliar face is a threat, especially without red flags. Radical voices in the industry would have us believe every Sunday, especially near Easter, brings inevitable attack. This over-focus on foreign-inspired threats can distract from real, everyday risks: medical emergencies, domestic disputes, or service disruptions.
 
If your training is solid, your team already knows to look for genuine concerns, "If you see something, say something." Raising anxiety only breeds suspicion toward normal visitors. Not every car in the lot is scouting; not every diaper bag hides a bomb; not every person with a Middle Eastern appearance is a radical.
 
Lakeview is growing, we're even planning a new worship center. On normal Sundays, our three services fill up fast. Easter will bring even bigger crowds and many unfamiliar faces.
 
So prepare this Easter remembering He is with us. Pray, Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Make sure your heart is right with God, Psalm 34:7 states, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”, and remember who we serve and your training.  Even the Father reminds us “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” Isaiah 41:10.
 
This does not mean we will rest or lower our guard after a lifetime of standing as a warrior. It simply means we will lean fully into the power granted to us by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We will walk in the strength They have instilled in us, to protect the flock entrusted to our care while advancing the Kingdom of God. We will have our hearts right with God, show the reason for the season, our Lord and Savior and let the Holy Spirit lead our thoughts and actions for the day. With the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost on our side, who can defeat us.
 
He has risen! Let's watch over the flock, welcome every visitor, and celebrate the risen Christ!
 ​

​I sometimes feel like I’m repeating myself. Why does so much church security focus center on spotting “the man in the trench coat on a hot day” instead of obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20)?

For over fifteen years, I’ve worked in this field, continually urging that we act as ambassadors of Christ, protecting the flock while advancing God’s kingdom. Yet the louder voices push teams to become bouncers, security guards, or wannabe SWAT officers. Many ministries, it seems to me, are chasing the wind, pursuing goals that miss the true heart of church safety: evangelism combined with the faithful duty of a watchman.

This is not about fear of criticism or concern over feelings. I have been doing this long enough to have buried friends and read too many after action reports to remain silent. This is a heartfelt warning. What I see across the country is fear being instilled where faith should lead, paranoia replacing wisdom, and posture replacing heart. I believe in protecting life, even at the cost of my own, but I also believe I will one day stand before God and answer for how I did it. Training that is disconnected from God’s guidance, right heart posture, and proactive wisdom has already gotten people killed. We were never called to operate in fear, suspicion, or ego, but to walk in obedience, discernment, and trust in the Lord who ultimately protects His people.

Brothers and sisters, across the country, “church security companies” teach fighting a spiritual battle with carnal weapons. One prominent expert declared, “If you can do violence against another person to save your fellow man and love Jesus, you are at the right place.” He also said, in essence, “If you love guns and you love Jesus, you’ve come to the right place.” I find neither statement in Scripture. This man has a large following mainly because he insists safety teams should operate like police departments, something most states would strongly discourage.

I teach nationwide and always invite local law enforcement to my sessions so nothing I present violates their laws or professional standards. Not once has an agency called my approach wrong. More often they say, “Listen to what Jim is saying, this will keep you out of trouble.”

Yet the popular industry largely pushes the opposite: reactive, fear driven tactics.

On a recent visit to a small church, I parked in the first time visitor spot and immediately saw three men in black, tight fitting T-shirts with “SECURITY” in large yellow letters across the back. My wife warned me to “be good,” but I thought, Here is the perfect example.

Tactically, because of the small size of the church, those three likely formed most of the team. To a bad actor, the strategy is obvious: neutralize them first, then anyone else in black, even a grandmother who simply wore the wrong color that day. No team should resemble bar bouncers or the Secret Service. Blend in as ordinary congregants. If you’re doing the job right, everyone who needs to know already does, no advertising required.

After the service, I thanked the pastor. As we spoke, one security member positioned himself directly behind the pastor. I understood the intent but couldn’t help wondering how it might appear to a hurting visitor seeking private counsel: “Be careful what you share, we’re watching.”

Heavy handed visibility can unintentionally signal suspicion and control rather than openness and grace. We must ask whether our methods align with a mission to welcome all who seek Christ.

This fear driven mindset dominates much commercial training today. A recent social media ad from a gun carrier insurance salesman solemnly asked, “Do you have a church security team? If not, why?” then directed viewers to a company focused almost exclusively on reactive active-shooter response.

These approaches to church security don’t just fall short, they actively endanger lives, create liability issues, and introduces the potential guilt one would face if someone they cared about were killed because of their actions. Sending civilians with eight hours of training to hunt an active shooter is reckless and dangerous. Once again, we are training church protectors with carnal weapons to fight spiritual battles. It breaks my heart to know that individuals are paying $125 to learn direct-to-threat response tactics, room clearing fundamentals, hallway and corridor movement, and team communication, then walking away believing they are prepared to track down an active shooter without being killed or seriously injured. One day of training does not make someone a SWAT commander, and no certificate is bulletproof.

It is important to clarify that we do offer training on responding to an active assailant, but our approach is fundamentally different from military or SWAT doctrine. We teach a proper civilian response, modeled after programs such as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s Alert, Barricade, and Confront, not the law enforcement or military mindset of “move, shoot, communicate, kill.” These are two entirely different missions with vastly different risk profiles. Our training is informed by active and retired law enforcement officers from agencies across the United States, each with decades of real world experience. When they encounter programs that promise to turn civilians into tactical operators in a single day, they are stunned that such companies exist at all because they know firsthand how dangerous and unrealistic those promises are.

David faced Goliath with no military or security company training. A shepherd who had protected his flock from lion and bear, he always gave glory to God. Armed with five smooth stones and a sling against the best armor of the day, David’s heart was right with God. In 1 Samuel 17:47, he declared the truth we must never forget: “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

So who do you serve, yourself or the Lord?

We must understand that church safety training is important. But we should be proactive by being ambassadors of the church, not reactive once the danger occurs. When you arrive to protect the flock, is your heart right with God? Is your primary aim making disciples, or are you feeding your ego with carnal weapons in a spiritual war?

One day we will answer to Christ. I’m banking on 1 Peter 5:2–4: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

Using this spiritual armor will never lead you astray.

​By the time this blog appears on our webpage, more than a month will have passed since the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In the aftermath of this unimaginable event, I felt compelled to reach out to our church’s Safety Team. Below is an excerpt from the email I sent to them on the Sunday following his death, expressing my thoughts and concerns during this difficult time.
 
“I find myself struggling to talk about the profound tragedy that occurred this week. In my line of work, such events prompt us to consider what could have been done differently to alter the outcome. My emotions have fluctuated between anger, sadness, and frustration regarding the current state of our country. There is no excuse, no reason, and no lie that can justify the killing of a man who spoke the truth, a devoted husband, a father of two children, and a friend to millions. Absolutely none. Even as I write this, I am numb. However, we must remember that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
 
In June 2020, I wrote a blog titled "Is Now the Time for a Christian Revolution?" In Paul McGuire and Troy Anderson's book, Trumpocalypse: The End-Times President, a Battle Against the Globalist Elite, and the Countdown to Armageddon (Babylon Code), they assert: "While a simply conservative revolution can never succeed, a revolution inspired by Christianity certainly can, because it draws its energies from the existence of the biblical God, the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his second coming, the truth of the Word of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
It’s these factors, and these alone, that ignited the American Revolution. A true 'Christian Revolution' can never happen unless the church, individual Christians, and Christian leaders really believe what they are teaching and then act upon it. Only a holy fire can ignite the hearts of men and women. Mere intellectual acknowledgment of the truth of the gospel will never release the explosive energies of heaven. The human heart, mind, and will must be absolutely gripped with the truthfulness of God’s existence and his purpose for their lives and the destiny of mankind. When and only when this happens will the Christian Revolution occur and radically change our world."”
 
Even before the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, those of us involved in church safety and security were already focused on monitoring the increasing number of attacks on churches. Several notable incidents have taken place in recent months, emphasizing the ongoing risks faced by houses of worship.
 
On June 22nd, at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, a potentially devastating event was averted thanks to the quick actions of a deacon running late to church. The deacon intervened by running over a man with his truck, who was armed with an assault weapon and carrying a large amount of ammunition. This decisive act prevented what could have been another tragedy similar to the Sutherland Springs shooting, saving countless lives before the attacker could enter the church.
 
Just a few weeks later, on July 13th, a shooting occurred at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. This incident resulted in the deaths of two family members and injuring two more family members of the woman the suspect was looking for. Early reports indicate that the violence stemmed from a domestic dispute, underscoring the unpredictable nature of such threats and the vulnerability of church communities.
 
The sense of unease escalated further on August 27th, when a mass shooting took place during the first mass of a new school year at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The horror of that day included the loss of two innocent children, injuries to eighteen other students, and harm to three elderly parishioners. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers churches face and the importance of vigilance.
 
Then on September 29th a person full of hatred for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, drove his truck through a wall, exited his vehicle and started shooting at members of the congregation. He then poured an accelerant in the church, setting it on fire. Because of the quick response of local law enforcement, they were able to confront the shooter and stop the threat, but not before the shooter killed four people, injuring eight others and destroying the church from the fire.
 
In the wake of what appears to be an apparent war on Christians, many church safety and security “experts” have responded by emphasizing the need for more armed personnel on church property. The prevailing message is that increasing the presence of firearms is the only way to counteract these threats effectively. However, I believe it is time to challenge this narrative.
 
Most church safety teams today operate in a reactive mode rather than a proactive one. The real issue is not simply the number of guns available, but rather the quality of training and preparedness within our teams. Far too often, churches remain vulnerable "soft targets," and many of these tragic incidents might have been prevented if church safety team members had been better trained and equipped to recognize and address threats before they escalated.
 
I am not here to advocate solely for improved training programs or for constructing physical barriers around our places of worship. Instead, I want to focus on the impact that Charlie Kirk has had on church safety teams. His influence challenges us to rethink our approach, urging us to go beyond the immediate, surface-level solutions and consider deeper, more meaningful changes in how we protect and serve our congregations.
 
The Sunday following Charlie’s death I witnessed our church’s attendance increase where we almost didn’t have enough chairs to seat everyone. During my last two trainings, one in Florida and another in Iowa I witnessed something that thrilled my soul. In the past the majority of the attendees at my trainings are middle age or older. At these two events I saw a surge of young men taking up the call to be safety team members.  Yet, what has given me pause regarding some of these young men is whether their attention has been captured more by “church experts” or by the genuine call of the Lord. It is vital to consider whose guidance they are following: are they absorbing lessons from popular figures who claim expertise in church safety, or are they tuning in to the voice of God and His purpose for their lives within the ministry?
 
Leaders of your church’s safety teams, are you recruiting the young people showing interest in being on the safety team to be security guards for the church or ambassadors for the Kingdom? There is a major difference between the two. Are they fishers of men or do they think there is a madman in every shadow on the church’s property, just waiting for the opportunity to steal, and to kill, and to destroy? Do they see or not see “that the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few?” We as the elder leaders need to bring our young safety team members up in the teachings of Jesus and not the teachings of some “expert” with 200K followers on YouTube that wants you to be a security guard and carry the biggest gun you can conceal for your church.
 
I really don’t know how to say this any clearer, we were placed on this earth to love Christ and work toward the expansion of His kingdom. Christ says the greatest commandment of all is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." The second is to "love your neighbor as yourself." Are we teaching this or do we teach our young men to judge everyone that looks suspicious who comes into our church? Our decision on which way we approach a person that doesn’t look right could change the outcome of that person’s life. A life as a follower of Christ or a life of thinking the church is nothing more than a place of hypocrites where we judge those that don’t look like us. What are we teaching?
 
Charlie Kirk talked to everyone, no matter their beliefs, race, sex, hair color, tattoos or piercings. He saw everyone through the eyes of Jesus Christ. Yet even in the love of Christ he didn’t back down from the truths of the Bible. A sin was a sin and the answer to everlasting life is Jesus Christ. Are we teaching the way of the gun or are we teaching the way of Christ?
 
The truths of Jesus Christ gives us the rights to protect the flock. Being right with Christ also gives us the power and strength of the Holy Spirit who guides us to show us the wolves and the hurting and gives us the words and actions to handle both. I stand bold to protect my church, but I also look for those I can serve. My elder brothers and sisters, we have an opportunity to change the way church safety is looked at by the leaders of our church. If they see that our major obligation is to expand the Kingdom of God while protecting the flock, we will see a renewed support on our ministry. But we have to take the lead. We who are older and looking for ways of passing the baton to the next generation of safety team members, the formula is right in front of you thanks to the ways of Charlie Kirk.
 
I will finish with the rest of the email I sent to my safety team after Charlie Kirk’s death. I pray that this inspires my elder brothers and sisters to realize our work is not done yet. We need to pray about it and be the leaders God has chosen us to be like those that have felt the Charlie effect.
 
“Charlie Kirk would have been a welcome and loved friend at Lakeview Church. His views on abortion, marriage, the belief that God created us as male and female without error, and that the only path to the Father is through Jesus Christ, are "the majors," as our Pastor Tim often says, that we all agree on. Lakeview has always been transparent about its beliefs and has never wavered from them. Because of our unwavering stance on these biblical truths, we are also at war. This is precisely why we do what we do.
 
This weekend, I ask that you all take a moment to pray for the Kirk family. We must ensure his flame does not extinguish. He spoke the truth with honesty, love, and kindness, and never backed down from those who sought to silence him. We must continue to stand as he did and not falter. He initiated a movement, and it is our responsibility to see it through. Perhaps Charlie's death will be the spark that ignites the hearts of men and women to take a stand and initiate a Christian revolution.”
 
Your brother in Christ,
 
Jim

​(We are sending this to everyone in the event that your state decides to allow open carry. This document is for churches who decide not to allow open carry. You need to check with your state on private property rights and / or contact an attorney.)
 
Florida’s statewide ban on open carry of firearms was struck down as unconstitutional on September 15th, 2025, by the First District Court of Appeals and the Florida’s Attorney General’s office has stated that it will not appeal the decision. As for that decision, individuals who are not prohibited from carrying a firearm may open carry. The ruling will officially take effect on September 25, 2025, opening the door for Floridians to open carry. This means you may have members or other individuals visiting your church carrying a firearm in plain view. Churches across Florida must decide on how to deal with this recent ruling. Leadership must get together and choose if they will allow open carry on church property or not. If the church leadership decides they do not want open carry in the church you have a right to ban it. I have listed several suggestions for your church.
 
1. Have the conversation about the issue. Leadership must get together and decide what they feel is best for their church. There should be a lot of prayer and open conversation on this issue. Some churches will have those that feel strongly one way or the other, so tough decisions have to be made. I was training this weekend when a safety team member asked how I felt about open carry. He already knew how his pastor, who was at the training felt about the issue. Leadership and the pastor had said no open carry, but the safety team member asked me in spite of their decision. I could see there was dissention among the ranks.
 
2. If a decision is made to prohibit open carry of firearms within your church, it is necessary to document this policy clearly. Consulting with an attorney can help ensure that the language is specific and unambiguous. If weapons are not entirely banned on property, the policy should specify whether members and visitors are allowed to carry concealed firearms. Stating that open carry is not permitted on church property—except for law enforcement or licensed armed security during operational hours—aligns with legal requirements. Policies should be applied consistently and not allow exceptions for certain groups, such as a safety team, while prohibiting others. This approach helps avoid confusion and ensures that regulations are uniformly enforced.
 
3. Advise your church members. September 25th is right around the corner and even if you cannot get a written policy or signage around the campus before the 25th, advise the church of your stance and from that day on it is policy. Saying you are going to wait until all is in place and then enforce your no open carry on church property is going to confuse church members. Once you make the decision, enforce your decision.
 
4. It is important to train volunteers on how to address situations where individuals arrive at the church with a visible weapon. Although signage may be posted throughout the property, law requires that attendees be verbally notified if they have missed signs indicating "No Open Carry." If a volunteer is not comfortable speaking with an armed individual—which may apply to many greeters and ushers—the safety team and church leadership should be prepared to address the situation appropriately. Individuals should be informed of the church’s “no open carry” policy and encourage them that, while their presence is welcome, church policies must be followed.
 
5. Individuals are encouraged to comply with church policies. When addressing others, remain polite and clarify that all visitors are welcome to attend services provided they adhere to the established guidelines. If someone refuses to comply and leaves the premises, document any relevant details about the individual and their vehicle. Afterwards, complete a church incident form as needed for future reference. Some individuals may challenge new rules, but all discussions regarding policy should be handled respectfully within the appropriate context.
 
6. If an individual refuses to comply with the church’s open carry policy or leave, notify local law enforcement immediately. Treat such situations as potentially dangerous and respond with caution to maintain the safety of everyone present.
 
Start to isolate the individual, keep communications calm, and move other attendees away from the immediate area to ensure their safety. Once law enforcement arrives, advise them of the incident and if appropriate, request that the individual be trespassed from church property. Afterwards complete a church incident form to document the occurrence for future reference and accountability.

We hope this information is helpful to those seeking clarity regarding the forthcoming changes in carry law. Please note, the content provided reflects our perspective on the subject and does not constitute legal advice. In response to recent inquiries, we are offering the same guidance previously shared with the church we attend. If your congregation requires assistance in drafting such policies, we advise consulting with your church's legal counsel.


If we can be of any other assistance in matters like these, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to serve you and assist you.
 
Be safe and be blessed,
 
Jim

​Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14


I recently listened to an Allen Jackson sermon about getting your heart right with God. Pastor Allen emphasized that unless we have our hearts aligned with the Father, He cannot use us. Think about that in your daily walk, if you're not aligned with God's plan, how can He direct you in His ways? This also applies to the safety ministry. If we are guided by our own thoughts, egos, or having a bad day, and our hearts are on us and not the Father, we might misjudge a situation He has put before us, and we can’t afford that in our ministry.

While being a street sergeant I witness many situations where officers brought their personal issue into work, included myself. We were always trained to leave the crisis at home, not to bring it to work because it always put our judgements at risk. Worried about a relationship that might be going bad, and it might be difficult to be unbiased on a family disturbance call. Worried about finances and you infuse your anger against a guy driving a sports car worth over two years of your salary. Feeling like your world is falling apart and you miss the gun the guy had hidden in his pants, putting everyone in danger. We trained all the time that we had to leave our problems at home or run the risk of losing our job or even our lives.

I remember getting a call about a traffic accident where the officer in charge was being rude to everyone on the scene. When I pulled up I noticed paramedics working on several children who appeared to have cuts and bruises all over their bodies. I also saw an old Ford Pinto that had been destroyed. I was wondering how anyone had survived the crash.

Getting out of my patrol unit I noticed the officer in charge yelling at the adult driver. He was threatening her, saying he was going to put the her in jail, and all the children, who appeared to be hers, were going to be taken from her and given to Child Protective Services. As I approached the officer, he looked up and he went off on me about what was going on. 
 
“Explain to me why I shouldn’t put her in jail and have CPS take the kids, she is not responsible and could have gotten all these kids killed?” he shouted at me.
 
I took him to the side and told him I was going to relieve him of this accident, and he needed to go to his car and meet me back at the station so we could talk about his actions. The way he looked at me and I could see the anger in his face and felt there for a moment he was going to hit me, but then I saw the tears well up in his eyes. One of his kids had been hurt in an accident where the driver shouldn’t have been on the road and here right in front of him, it was happening again. He had let his emotions get the better of him and even though I understood his ager, we couldn’t allow him to take it out on a mother that was in dire straights herself. You see when our hearts are full of junk from our personal lives, sometimes we can’t see the person that is crying for help right in front of us.  The female had a driver’s seat, all other seats had been removed, the tags were expired, and it had failed inspection. To top it all off, she had pulled out in front of another car.

“Explain to me why I shouldn’t put her in jail and have CPS take the kids, she is not responsible and could have gotten all these kids killed?” he shouted at me.
 
I took him to the side and told him I was going to relieve him of this accident, and he needed to go to his car and meet me back at the station so we could talk about his actions. The way he looked at me and I could see the anger in his face and felt there for a moment he was going to hit me, but then I saw the tears well up in his eyes. One of his kids had been hurt in an accident where the driver shouldn’t have been on the road and here right in front of him, it was happening again. He had let his emotions get the better of him and even though I understood his ager, we couldn’t allow him to take it out on a mother that was in dire straights herself. You see when our hearts are full of junk from our personal lives, sometimes we can’t see the person that is crying for help right in front of us.

So when we have those moments, our best move is to turn the “junk” over to the Lord and let Him be our strength. Lean in on Him to not only help us with the situation we are in but also show the compassion He did with the sinners He met during His walk on earth. Relying on Him, He will open our eyes and minds, showing us how to respond to the situation in front of us.
 
How does this relate to church safety? Deacon Richard Pryor saw a truck doing donuts in his church's driveway. He was running late and wanted to get into church; it was the weekend after Vacation Bible School, and he wanted to see what all the kids had been doing.  There were probably 100 things on his mind, but his heart was right with God. When he sees the truck move over to the other side of the church, instead of asking “What’s your problem, pal!” like I probably would have said. He pulled up next to the truck, and asked the driver these questions ‘Hey, boss, are you okay? Is everything all right?’ I don't know if that would have been my response, knowing my demeanor. Yet Pryor's heart was right with God to ask that simple question, "Are you okay?" and because of his actions, the shooter’s first target was shooting the outside of the church and not Pryor.  Maybe it was the way Pryor spoke to him that he didn't shoot Pryor first, yet he pointed his weapon at the church.  So God spared Pryor so that He could use him to disable the shooter by hitting him with his truck.  Pryor even said that he "felt a divine call to act." That is because his heart was right with God.


It doesn’t matter if you are in law enforcement or church safety, the principle is the same: A heart aligned with God sees people, not just problems. It listens before reacting. It protects without losing compassion. If we keep our hearts right with Him, our actions will follow, and we’ll be ready when He calls.