The Top 5 Myths About Church Safety

The hard truth is, the very beliefs that make our churches such welcoming places can also create deadly blind spots. We're going to expose the top five most dangerous myths about church safety and show you exactly how to fix them before it’s too late.

I'm Dr. James McGarvey and for over 30 years, I've helped churches create safe environments that still feel like home. I’ve seen firsthand how a few common—but dangerous—misconceptions can leave a congregation tragically vulnerable.

Now, the goal here isn't to spread fear. It’s to empower you. Think of it this way: being prepared is an act of responsible stewardship. It's about protecting the flock so you can continue to be a beacon of hope and light in your community. Today, we’re going to move from myth to reality, from vulnerability to strength. We’re going to give you the practical knowledge to make your church safer, starting right now.

Let’s get into the first, and maybe the most pervasive, myth of all.

Myth 1: "It Can't Happen Here."

This is the big one. It's the belief that your church—just because it’s in a quiet suburb, a small rural town, or a friendly neighborhood—is somehow immune to violence. It’s a comforting thought, but it’s a dangerous delusion.

The problem with the "it can't happen here" mindset is that it breeds complacency. It stops us from taking even the most basic precautions. We think of violence as a big-city problem, or something that happens to "other" churches. But the data tells a very different story. [In 2024 alone, there were 415 hostile incidents reported at U.S. churches, including everything from vandalism and arson to armed aggression.] [These attacks happened in 43 different states, in communities of every shape and size.]

The most heartbreaking example of this is the tragedy at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas. [On a quiet Sunday morning in 2017, a gunman opened fire, killing 26 people and wounding 22 others.] [The victims ranged from just 5 years old to 77.] It’s still the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in American history. [Before that day, Sutherland Springs was a peaceful, tight-knit community—the very last place anyone would expect such horror.] Their story is a permanent, painful reminder that no church, no matter how small or remote, is automatically safe.

So, what’s the fix? You have to replace complacency with awareness. It starts with a simple, honest conversation among your church leadership. The first step is a risk assessment, and you don’t need to be a security expert to do it. Just walk your campus with a critical eye. Are your doors unlocked and unmonitored during services? Are the parking lots and kids' areas poorly lit? Who has keys to the building? These simple questions get the ball rolling. You can also partner with us or local law enforcement. Many departments will do a free walk-through of your facility and point out vulnerabilities you might have missed. Acknowledging the risk isn’t an act of fear; it’s the first step toward being responsible.

Myth 2: "We Don't Need Security—God Will Protect Us."

This myth touches the very core of our faith, and honestly, that’s what makes it so tough to address. Of course, we believe in a sovereign God who watches over us. But here's the thing: faith and practical preparation aren't enemies. In fact, the Bible is filled with calls to be wise and vigilant.

The danger of relying only on faith for protection is that it becomes an excuse for inaction. It spiritualizes a lack of stewardship. [Proverbs 22:3 tells us, "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."] God gave us wisdom and foresight for a reason. Choosing not to use them isn't a demonstration of faith; it's just tempting fate.

We have to see security not as a replacement for faith, but as an expression of it. When we prepare, we are acting as good stewards of the lives God has put in our care. We are literally protecting the body of Christ.

The fix is to reframe security as a ministry. It’s the ministry of protection. Your church has a hospitality ministry, a children's ministry, a worship ministry. A safety ministry is just as vital. Start by forming a safety team. And this team shouldn't just be former law enforcement or military folks, though their experience is a huge asset. It should also include people from your greeting teams, ushers, and church elders. This gives you a balanced approach—one that values both protection and a warm welcome.

Train your greeters and ushers to be more than just smiling faces handing out bulletins. They are your first line of defense. Train them in situational awareness—how to spot someone who seems out of place, distressed, or is paying weirdly close attention to your security measures. They can be your eyes and ears, extending a hand of welcome while also serving as watchful protectors. This approach doesn't require a massive budget; it just requires being intentional.

Myth 3: "A Small Church Doesn't Need a Security Plan."

A lot of people think that security plans and teams are only for megachurches with huge budgets. If you're a congregation of 75 people, it can feel like total overkill. But the truth is, size doesn't determine risk. In many ways, a smaller church can be an even more attractive target.

The problem is that small churches often have fewer resources, less formal procedures, and a very trusting, informal culture—all things an attacker can exploit. Doors are often left open, there’s no formal check-in for the kids' area, and since "everyone knows everyone," there's a false sense of security. [Remember, the Sutherland Springs church had a congregation of only about 50 people.] The church's small size didn't stop the attacker; it may have made it seem like an easier target. Thinking your church is too small to be a target is a critical, and potentially fatal, blind spot.

The fix isn't to turn your small church into a fortress. It’s about scaling security to fit your reality. You can dramatically increase safety with simple, low-cost or even no-cost measures.

First, lock unused doors. It sounds almost too basic, but in so many churches, side and back doors are just propped open or unlocked. Funnel everyone through one or two main entrances where they'll be met by your trained greeters. Second, create a simple emergency plan. What’s the plan for a medical emergency? A fire? A disruptive person? Write it down and make sure your key people know it. Third, improve communication. You don't need fancy earpieces. A group chat or a cheap set of walkie-talkies can connect your key people instantly.

For a small church, security is all about using the resources you already have. Your greeters are your lookouts. Your ushers are your first responders. When you build security into existing roles, you create a culture of safety that preserves the warmth and intimacy that makes your small church so special.

Myth 4: "If Something Happens, the Threat Will Be a Stranger."

When we imagine a threat to our church, we almost always picture a shadowy figure—a total stranger walking in off the street with bad intentions. And while that kind of external threat is real, focusing only on it means we miss a far more common danger: the threat from within.

The reality is that many violent incidents in churches are carried out by people who have a connection to the congregation. It could be a disgruntled member, someone in a domestic dispute that spills over into the church, or a former member holding a grudge. [The gunman in the Sutherland Springs shooting had a domestic dispute with his mother-in-law, who was a member of that church.] His attack wasn't random; it was targeted. Focusing only on strangers leaves you blind to the warning signs that can bubble up from inside your own community.

This is a deeply uncomfortable truth because it runs against the very spirit of trust and fellowship we cherish. We don't want to be suspicious of the people sitting next to us in the pews. And we shouldn't be. But we can't be naive, either.

The fix here is delicate but crucial. You have to create a culture where people feel safe raising concerns, and where those concerns are taken seriously and handled with both compassion and firmness. This starts by training your leaders and safety team on behavioral threat indicators. This isn't about judging people. It's about recognizing observable behaviors—like someone who is consistently angry, making veiled threats, expressing paranoid thoughts, or suddenly withdrawing from everyone.

You also need a clear process for when someone reports a concern. Who do they go to? What are the steps for intervention? This could involve a conversation with church elders, a recommendation for counseling, or in serious cases, contacting law enforcement.

And your child safety policies are completely non-negotiable. Every single volunteer and staff member who works with children must have a thorough background check. You need a secure check-in and check-out procedure for your children’s ministry to prevent anyone unauthorized from picking up a child. It's all about balancing trust with verification. It doesn’t mean you distrust your people; it means you're absolutely committed to protecting the most vulnerable among you.

Myth 5: "Security and Hospitality Are Mutually Exclusive."

This final myth presents a false choice: you have to pick one. Either you’re a welcoming, open church, or you’re a secure one. You’ll see this debated endlessly. Some argue that guards and cameras make a church feel like a fortress and scare people away. Others argue that a lack of security is just an open invitation for disaster.

The truth is, this is not an either/or situation. The most effective church safety strategy is one where security and hospitality are completely integrated.

The problem with seeing them as separate is that you end up with one of two bad outcomes. Either your security team acts like a cold, intimidating force, alienating the very people you want to reach, or your welcome team is totally oblivious to potential threats, creating a "Welcome" mat for danger. A security team in tactical gear not only looks intimidating, it also tells an attacker exactly who to take out first. On the flip side, a greeter who is only focused on a friendly handshake might miss someone trying to walk out the door with a child that isn't theirs.

The fix is to build a safety ministry where your protectors are also your greeters. Think of your security team as "servant protectors." Their main posture is one of welcome, assistance, and service. They smile, they open doors, they help a new family find the nursery, and they answer questions. But they do it all from a position of awareness. They are trained to observe, to identify potential issues, and to communicate seamlessly if a problem arises.

This approach makes your security nearly invisible to the average visitor, but highly effective. A well-trained team member can de-escalate a situation with a calm voice long before it ever becomes a physical confrontation. It means you can use technology discreetly, like outdoor cameras or automatic locks on side doors, to enhance security without creating a hostile vibe.

The key is to have your hospitality and security leaders planning together. When you do that, you ensure your safety protocols line up with your church's mission to be a welcoming place for everyone. You prove that you don’t have to choose between being a sanctuary and being secure. You can, and you must, be both.

Confronting these myths isn't about creating fear; it's about building a foundation of responsible, faithful preparedness. Protecting your congregation is a sacred duty. It allows your church to continue its work, to remain a safe harbor in a sometimes-troubled world, and to keep its doors open for everyone who needs your message.

Stay safe and stay vigilent!