By Marty Gordon
As one response to the wave of church shootings that continues to plague the nation’s worshipers, Security Management Specialist Kevin English with the Western Virginia Training program will hold a church security workshop Saturday, March 7, in Christiansburg. The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Good Shepherd Baptist Church at 155 Dunlap Drive.
Eighteen different church shootings have taken place over the past 10 years with the deadliest being in 2017 at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Twenty-six worshipers including an unborn child were killed, and another 20 were wounded.
| In December, a man shot and killed two people during a church service in White Settlement, Texas, before two members of the church security team shot and killed him, authorities said.
Police Chief J.P. Bevering said the shooter entered West Freeway Church of Christ and sat down in the sanctuary, then stood, pulled out a shotgun and shot two parishioners. “There was a security team inside the church, and they eliminated the threat,” Bevering said. Two of the parishioners who were volunteers on the security force drew their weapons and shot the killer, saving an untold number of lives. More and more churches are taking preventive measures to protect against such instances. |
English said his workshop this weekend will encompass a total safety and security approach and not just security in the wake of the shootings.
“We cover topics such as establishing emergency action plans for all emergencies, i.e. weather, fire, evacuation procedures, proper reporting, insurance requirements, the selection process for safety teams, background checks for staff including ministry workers, the selection of electronic security measures, patrol techniques for security and active shooter awareness for the civilian security team,” English said.
On March 2, 2019, English held the first organized Church Safety and Security Workshop with six churches attending. He led three more workshops in 2019.
“As of today, we have two other churches discussing or are in the actual planning stage of hosting the workshop. I have noticed several training schools offering some sort of church security across the country, so I expect that church security training is becoming an industry of sorts,” English said.
The firearms instructor honestly believes that at some point state governmental bodies will begin to institute regulations concerning standards, training and licensing for church security teams.
He recommends several simple steps all churches can do regardless of budgets.
“Situational awareness is important. Always be alert to anything out of the normal. Churches can look at and review their communication procedures. That is, who will be directing the membership during any type of crisis. Churches can set up electronic surveillance of the perimeter with a dedicated control room for a security team member to monitor while church is in session. A church can place signage to advise whether weapons are allowed or disallowed on the property,” English said. “Church members can control the entrances. If a church has obscured entrances, church members should make sure they are locked before and during services.” English also advises that safety team members, ushers and the congregation should be trained to be safety and security minded at all times.
English anticipates he will hold another workshop in Christiansburg in April. “We do have a Virginia Concealed Carry and Firearm Safety Class scheduled for April 4 at God’s House Church in Pembroke. It is open to the public, and we will have a range class for practical firearm handling and safety,” he said.
Any church that hosts the safety/security workshop is asked to provide an opportunity for an honorarium to be received. However, this is not a requirement and no minimums have to be met.
More information about full armor ministry training is available at www.westernvirginiatraining.com.