Pastor Shot in Face Before Service
First, the pastor is in stable condition. Please pray for his healing and that the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice.
I did a video breakdown of a shooting that happened at a church in Memphis yesterday (Sunday). I want to take this time to point out that I keep repeating that most problems start in the parking lot. I also released training on how to deal with suspicious cars in your parking lot. This training applies to this incident. Please take that training and then practice it with your congregation.
All good. But it’s a moot point in todays charged migration invasion environment which is about to peak in this election year and beyond. Multiple Jihadi assaults on churchs and synagogues will obviate traditional protection schemes.
These attacks will not be solo /lone wolf or a disgruntled former persisted. Rather today and soon, a dozen Jihadis will join in the battle to both kill everyone in the building but bomb and burn it down. Get used to that reality and your planning will change. These brigands will be well armed, move fast, and surprise the entire congregation. The gun battle may begin in the parking lot and finish with all congregants dead within 6 minutes. The plans and layout for your building are on your website. In color. The American church is ignorantly vulnerable. These type events are all outlined in Scripture. It need not happen.
Kieth, when the attack is against the church (as vs being related to a domestic situation) it is pretty safe to assume that the pastor will be the primary target. How we used to address this at my last church was to use “assigned” seating for some of the security team members. Quite often an attack against the pastor or church will come from the front two rows of seating. Have a couple of team members who are attending service sit in the second or third row, so that they can observe the front two rows, on the ends of their rows so they may be able to react more quickly and easily, and have them try to watch for signs of an intended attacker becoming agitated or wound up. The idea is to try and intercept this person once they make their move. At the same time have another team member jump up on to the stage to act as a shield as he/she grabs the pastor by the back belt, bends the pastor over, and quickly escort the pastor off of the stage (via a rear stage entrance) into a designated safe room; and barricade inside of that safe room until given an “All clear” by some other team member. The pastor’s escort must remain between the threat and the pastor in order to protect the pastor. If possible, try to have a security team member move to sit next to, or directly behind someone who is showing signs of agitation or other signs that they may attack the pulpit.
Meanwhile, try to have one team member sit at the back center of the sanctuary, where they can keep an eye on the sanctuary doors and also the rest of the sanctuary. If someone suddenly gets up and makes a beeline for the stage, probably shouting at the pastor, they can intercept that attacker as well.
If security team members should have to “lay hands on anyone”, intervene or whatever, another team member should once that person has been subdued, immediately call 911 and request police assistance.
I hope some of this is of help, Kieth.