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Preparing the Church with Wisdom, Courage, and Grace - Friday, January 23, 2026
This past week, a church in St. Paul, Minnesota experienced an unexpected disruption when protestors entered a worship service to express outrage over an alleged connection between a pastor and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Reports also suggest the protest was connected to the tragic death of a Minnesota woman during a separate protest on January 7. According to ChurchLeaders.com, the incident is a sobering reminder that churches are not immune from social and political tensions.
Sadly, this was not an isolated event. A report from the Center for Religious Liberty documents 1,384 acts of hostility against U.S. churches between January 2018 and December 2024. While that number is troubling, it is also important to remember that tens of thousands of churches gather peacefully every week. Yet the reality remains: churches must be prepared for disruptions with wisdom, clarity, and faith.
Preparation begins with practical steps. Written safety policies, evacuation or shelter-in-place plans, trained greeters, and clear communication systems are essential. Churches should pay attention to their facilities and surroundings—well-maintained exteriors and functioning lighting communicate readiness and care. Security teams must be trained and legally informed, and leaders should understand their rights and responsibilities when disruptions occur. Read more about this HERE.
Equally important is knowing how to respond in the moment. Calm leadership, immediate communication with authorities, and clear decision-making roles help prevent chaos. Resources like The Gospel Coalition’s guidance on responding to protestors and practical church security insights from Tithe.ly offer helpful frameworks. Churches that livestream should also consider policies such as brief broadcast delays and thoughtful decisions about what is recorded.
Yet preparation is not merely logistical—it is spiritual. How a church responds to disruption will be watched closely by those outside the faith. Scripture reminds us that opposition should not surprise us (John 15:18–25), but neither should love disappear in moments of tension. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44—“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”—call us to respond with both courage and compassion.
In moments of disruption, churches must protect people and property, but they must also keep God at the center. Preparedness and prayer are not opposites; they are partners. As Ephesians 3:20–21 reminds us, God is able to do far more than we can imagine, so let's not leave him out of our plans to provide safe worship environments each week.
May our churches be ready, wise, and faithful—demonstrating both strength and grace, no matter what comes through the doors.
Our Association wants to help your church be a safer, better prepared environment. We are adding a Church Safety and Security session to our 2026 Church Strengthening Conference on January 31, 2026.
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