09/08/2025
On June 22, 2025, an armed man wearing a tactical vest opened fire outside CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, as more than 150 people — including many children — attended a vacation Bible school service. The attacker was stopped before entering the building, thanks to the rapid response of trained church members.
One parishioner intervened by using a truck to strike and delay the assailant, allowing two USCCA Members from the church’s volunteer security team — who had completed a USCCA church security training course less than a week earlier — to intervene and stop the suspect.
Innocent lives weren’t lost that day because these defenders were prepared. They had trained. They had a plan. And they acted decisively. It’s a powerful reminder for churches everywhere: the time to prepare is now.
Why Every Church Needs a Safety Plan
Churches are built on community and trust. But in today’s world, openness also brings risk. Faith-based institutions are increasingly viewed as soft targets by individuals seeking to cause harm. The first step in protecting a congregation is recognizing that the risk is real.
Waiting for an incident to occur before building a plan is not an option. Your church’s response in the first 30 seconds of a violent event will determine the outcome. A plan ensures those 30 seconds aren’t filled with confusion but with action. That plan must go beyond vague ideas. It should be written, rehearsed and reviewed regularly.
Concealed Carry in Church: What You Must Know
Many responsible citizens already concealed carry in church, understanding that the right to self-defense doesn’t end at the sanctuary doors. But a firearm alone is not enough. Effectiveness comes from pairing that tool with a mindset, training and structure.
Selecting the Right Defensive Gear
- Platform: Opt for mid-size or full-size pistols for greater control and magazine capacity. While compact guns are easier to conceal, longer barrels provide improved accuracy, critical in spacious sanctuaries.
- Sights: Tritium or fiber-optic sights improve visibility in low-light scenarios typical of churches.
- Holster: Choose a holster that offers proper retention while allowing a clean, consistent draw, even from seated positions.
- Ammunition: Use self-defense rounds designed to expand on impact and minimize overpenetration. Avoid full-metal jacket rounds in populated environments.
Carriers should train in the specific attire they wear to church and understand how seating positions, tight aisles, and close crowds affect access and movement.
How to Build a Church Security Team
Security isn’t just about who’s armed. It’s also about who’s aware. A successful church security team works in layers, combining physical presence, observation, communication and action.
Suggested Roles
- Entry Greeters: These team members monitor body language and behavior while welcoming newcomers. They serve as the first line of detection and should be trained in situational awareness and the identification of pre-attack indicators.
- Interior Monitors: These individuals walk the sanctuary during services and observe for irregular movement or signs of distress. They must remain calm, stay fully present and be prepared to act without alarming the congregation.
- Medical Responders: These team members are equipped with trauma kits and trained to treat injuries until emergency medical services arrive. Their contribution is often overlooked, but it can be life-saving during a critical incident.
- Team Leads: This role involves coordinating the overall response, communicating with local authorities and maintaining radio discipline. The team lead should be someone with leadership experience and the ability to remain composed under pressure.
Team members should be selected based not just on willingness, but on temperament, reliability and the ability to follow instructions under stress. Training in verbal skills is just as important as firearms proficiency.
Training Church Security for Real-World Threats
Effective church security-team training goes beyond theory. It involves real-world simulations: What if someone disrupts the sermon? What if a suspicious person refuses to stop at the door? What if a shot is fired during worship?
Teams should conduct regular drills, each followed by a debrief:
- What went well?
- What slowed the response?
- What adjustments are needed?
Incorporate role-play, audio cues and multi-room coordination. Training under stress improves confidence when every second counts.
Scenario-based training should also include verbal engagement: giving commands, moving people to safety and handling crowd panic. The goal is not just to stop the threat, but to stabilize the environment quickly.
Why Medical Training Is Vital for Church Defense
In any violent encounter, the ability to stop a threat is only half the equation. Lives may still be at risk due to injuries. That’s why every church security team should include medical readiness as a core skill.
Trauma Kit Essentials
- Tourniquets (CAT or SOFT-T)
- Chest seals
- Pressure bandages
- Hemostatic gauze
- Gloves and trauma shears
Pair equipment with training. The USCCA’s first-aid classes are an excellent resource. Even one team member trained in trauma care can dramatically increase survival odds during a critical incident.
A wounded responder or bystander will require fast intervention before EMS arrives. Your team must be ready to provide it.
Legal Rules for Defending a Church Shooting
If an armed threat presents itself, defenders must respond in a way that is fast, proportional and legally justified. Use-of-force decisions often hinge on the concept of disparity of force, which is when an attacker has a physical or tactical advantage that makes lethal force justifiable even if he or she is not armed in a traditional sense.
Key elements to evaluate:
- Was there an imminent threat of death or serious injury?
- Could you articulate why no lesser option would have worked?
- Did you attempt verbal commands or retreat when feasible?
Training must include decision-making under pressure. Role-playing scenarios where force is not required are just as valuable as live-fire drills. This ensures defenders don’t develop a one-size-fits-all mindset.
How to Overcome Security Complacency at Church
The greatest threat to church security isn’t always a firearm. It’s the belief that “It won’t happen here.” This normalcy bias prevents leaders from planning and causes hesitation when danger appears. Unfortunately, attackers rely on this mindset.
Combat it by reframing the conversation:
- Safety is an act of stewardship.
- Preparedness protects the freedom to worship.
- Emergency planning doesn’t replace faith. It reinforces it.
Security planning should be viewed no differently than preparing for medical emergencies or natural disasters. It’s a form of care, not fear.
5 Steps to Make Your Church Safer
Whether your church has 50 members or 500, these core steps can enhance security without disrupting ministry:
- Form a safety team. Start with trusted volunteers and set clear roles.
- Conduct a risk assessment. Identify vulnerabilities like unlocked doors or unsecured children’s areas.
- Establish communication plans. Radios, hand signals and evacuation announcements should all be part of training.
- Partner with law enforcement. Many departments offer active-shooter training or church-specific resources.
- Educate the congregation. Help members understand protocols and reassure them that preparedness reflects love and responsibility.
Coordinate regular walk-throughs with police and fire departments to ensure your plan aligns with local response protocols. Joint drills can strengthen trust and clarify expectations on both sides.
Church Security Starts With Leadership
Church leaders set the tone for culture and preparedness. When pastors openly support safety initiatives, they empower teams and reassure the congregation.
Ways to lead effectively:
- Speak to your church about security as a spiritual duty.
- Support training time, budget and logistical needs.
- Participate in drills to show alignment.
- Invite local police for walkthroughs or workshops.
Consider building a crisis leadership team that can step in post-incident to coordinate response, communicate with the media and manage emotional support systems. Leadership presence and communication are crucial in both prevention and recovery.
Prepared Churches Are Protected Churches
The story behind the CrossPointe Community Church shooting is more than a news headline. It’s a lesson. When violence threatens a congregation, preparation makes the difference. From individuals who act with courage to security teams trained for the worst, lives are saved when people take readiness seriously.
If your church doesn’t yet have a strategy for defending against a church shooting, now is the time. Hope is not a defense plan. Faith without preparation is not security. Take steps today to protect your community, because nothing is more worth defending.
This article is a compilation of previous blog posts and CCM articles authored by Kevin Michalowski, George Harris, Scott W. Wagner, Beth Alcazar, Michael Martin, Rick Sapp, Ed Combs, John Calie and David Burnett.
Take Action to Protect Your House of Worship
If your church hasn’t had the conversation about security, now is the time. Help your church stay safe and prepared with the Protecting Your House of Worship program — the same active-shooter training course completed by the two defenders at CrossPointe Community Church. This course equips parishioners to recognize, react to and stop threats in a house of worship. Learn how to build a layered defense plan that protects your staff and congregation, so everyone can worship with peace of mind. Make preparedness a vital part of your ministry’s mission today.
Need a roadmap for those steps? Keeping Your Church Safe by Rob Aguiar is a practical, easy-to-follow blueprint trusted by church leaders nationwide ($30). Available from the USCCA Store, this comprehensive guide covers everything from volunteer training to facility security, making it ideal for establishing an effective security program for congregations of all sizes.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is church security important?
Churches often host large gatherings, including children and families, which can make them vulnerable to threats. A well-prepared security plan helps ensure that congregants can worship with peace of mind, knowing that trained individuals are ready to respond in an emergency.
What does the USCCA’s church security training include?
The USCCA’s church security class is an active-shooter training course designed to help parishioners recognize, react to and stop threats in a house of worship. The training emphasizes how to build a layered defense plan that protects both church staff and the congregation.
Who should take part in church security efforts?
Volunteers, church staff and parishioners who are committed to protecting their community are ideal candidates for church security roles. With proper training — such as that provided by the USCCA — these individuals can form an effective security team capable of responding quickly to threats.
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