October 1, 2026
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Georgia Baptist Mission Board is providing churches with practical security resources designed to help congregations prepare wisely, communicate clearly, and care for people well when unexpected situations arise.
The resources, available through the Mission Board’s Church Security Resources page at gabaptist.org/churchsecurity, are intended to help pastors and church leaders think through safety before a crisis occurs.
“The Georgia Baptist Mission Board is committed to providing practical resources that are actionable for churches,” said Andy Childs, assistant executive director of the GBMB.
Childs said spiritual awareness should also heighten a church’s attention to physical needs, including the safety of those who gather for worship, discipleship, and ministry.
“A church security plan helps provide clarity, communication, and unified action during chaotic situations,” he said.
A 2025 report from Family Research Council points to continued concerns about hostility toward churches nationwide. The report identified 415 incidents involving U.S. churches in 2024, including vandalism, arson, bomb threats, gun-related incidents, and other crimes. While that number was lower than the 485 incidents FRC identified in 2023, it was nearly equal to the 420 incidents the organization identified in its first report, which covered a 57-month span beginning in 2018.
For local church leaders, those concerns are not abstract.
Daniel Currie, executive pastor of Peavine Baptist Church, said his church began thinking more intentionally about security because of current events and reports of violence targeting houses of worship, schools, and other public spaces.
“There may just be increased coverage, but it seems that, in the age of social media and internet notoriety, there is an unfortunate rise in tragic incidents targeting spaces that used to feel like safe havens for our communities,” Currie said.
Terry Ryan, pastor of Penia Baptist Church, said churches today are more aware of security concerns because information travels faster and incidents are reported more broadly than they were 10 or 20 years ago. He also pointed to what he described as growing animosity toward people of faith.
Ryan said his own awareness of safety was shaped in part by 20 years in the U.S. Navy, where security and preparation were part of regular training. But he said his concern is also pastoral.
“It is not a lack of faith, but an appreciation for the training God has afforded me and a thankfulness for the abilities God has built into me,” Ryan said.
The GBMB page points to the fact that, “Safety requires intentionality.” It provides churches with free resources from GuideStone, including a church security one-pager and a series of Strategos Training videos.
The one-page guide, titled “Five Tips for Biblical Safety,” encourages churches not to be driven by fear, but to exercise wisdom and sound judgment as they seek to protect people and ministry facilities. The guide cites 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
Currie said churches need to be proactive rather than reactive as they care for their congregations. But he also said security should never replace the church’s mission or make guests feel unwelcome.
“It just has to be ‘both and,’” Currie said. “We should always keep our mission front and center, and that should drive how we welcome people into our churches, but if we neglect to let them know that we have their safety in mind, or do not allow them to see that steps have been taken to mitigate risk, then we are neglecting our responsibility to shepherd our flocks. Shepherds care for, but they also protect.”
Ryan echoed that concern, saying the goal is not to make the church feel closed off or fearful.
“Our goal is not to create a fortress,” he said. “Our goal is to create an environment where people can worship freely and safely.”
The GuideStone resource suggests churches assess their needs and goals, review insurance coverage, choose safety team members carefully, communicate a culture of safety, and provide proper training.
For churches forming safety teams, the resource emphasizes experience, ability and character. Churches should choose people who can respond “in a calm, measured, humble and caring manner.”
Currie said safety teams should see their work as part of the church’s broader ministry to people.
“The majority of their time and effort should go into helping your folks feel welcome and solving small issues as they arise,” Currie said. “If they care enough to help protect the congregation, they already are in the right mindset to serve.”
The GuideStone resource also encourages churches to build a “see something, say something” culture and remind congregations that safety is not only the responsibility of those officially serving on a security team.
Data from the Faith Based Security Network, a Christian-based professional association that supports ministry leaders, law enforcement, and first responders, suggests that churches should think of security beyond Sunday morning worship services. In incidents the network has studied, more than 77% of deadly force incidents occurred or began outside on ministry property, in a parking lot, or at an activity location, and more than 63% occurred when no event was taking place.
Ryan said his church has encountered situations involving individuals who presented legitimate concerns, but preparation and cooperation with law enforcement helped prevent harm. Penia Baptist uses volunteers for its security team and incorporates existing church leaders, including ushers and deacons, into its plan. The church also uses security cameras, communication protocols, and greeters who help manage entry during services.
Currie said practical steps can begin simply. Churches can start a security team, contact local law enforcement for a review of their property and practices, and consider hiring off-duty officers to be present during gatherings. Peavine uses both volunteers and off-duty officers at every campus and every service.
Ryan said even churches in rural or isolated areas should not assume they do not need a plan.
“Every church has a security plan,” Ryan said. “No plan is a plan. It is a bad one, but a plan nonetheless.”
For pastors who feel overwhelmed, Currie said the best step is to begin with the people and relationships already available.
“Figure out who in your church would be a great fit on the team,” he said. “Even if it is just in the administration and planning portion of the team. Then start the conversation with your local law enforcement. They love to answer the call before they are needed and are a wealth of knowledge about how to best protect your congregation and your community.”
Ryan also encouraged churches to seek training, ask local law enforcement to review existing practices, and use state convention resources. He said churches can speak openly about security without creating fear if leaders communicate confidence and care.
“If you lead well and show confidence, I have found that people relax,” Ryan said.
Church security concerns in Georgia have also extended beyond emergency preparedness to the protection of worship services themselves. Earlier this year, Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 591, which prohibits protests intended to disrupt religious services within 500 feet of a place of worship beginning one hour before a service and continuing until one hour after it concludes.
Georgia Baptist leaders supported the measure, saying churches should be able to gather for worship without fear of disruption or intimidation.
“Religious liberty is one of our most cherished freedoms,” said Thomas Hammond, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, at the time. “This law helps provide reasonable protections for churches and other houses of worship while respecting constitutional freedoms.”
For Ryan, preparation ultimately grows out of love for people rather than fear.
“We need security because we love people,” he said. “Fear protects self. Love protects others.”
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The GBMB Church Security Resources page is available at gabaptist.org/churchsecurity. Churches can also contact the Mission Board discipleship team for help thinking through next steps.
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