By Frank Sheldone
It has become an unfortunate fact of life that church services have become targets for some people seeking to harm others.
In 2025 alone, three places of worship — in Michigan, Minnesota and Kentucky — were targeted by active shooters.
These events remain rare, and they do not mean churches should fear hosting a service; however, they do mean that security at your church should no longer be an afterthought. In a world where active shooters target church services, church executives must do their due diligence to find the right security team to help protect their congregation and place of worship.
There is no shortage of physical security teams willing to contract with churches, but it is important that church executives understand what makes a competent security team and ensure they are hiring the right one. As a private security expert, I have worked with many churches on their private security plans, so here are a few tips to help you vet prospective security teams.
Insurance and licensing are nonnegotiable
This one might seem obvious, but you would be surprised at how much people will compromise if the price is right: the first thing you should ask any security team is whether they are licensed and insured. If they don’t meet that basic standard, they should not be considered capable of protecting your church.
Any security firm you work with should be licensed by your state’s Department of Public Safety and carry at least $1 million in liability insurance. Please keep in mind that this is the bare minimum a firm should meet to be considered. Ideally, your security firm will have more robust licensing and liability insurance. For example, I would want a security firm to be licensed for armed security and to have active-shooter training if I were hiring them to protect my church.
The fact of the matter is that the biggest threats to churches are not petty thieves but people looking to use deadly force. You need security personnel who know how to handle potentially deadly situations. Managing a church is busy work; don’t waste your time interviewing people who don’t meet basic licensing and insurance standards.
Armed security and crowd experience
As I said before, unarmed security is rarely effective for a church service. If your only concern is preventing property damage, it might make sense — but most church executives are looking for security that protects congregants during services. For this, you need to hire security firms experienced in handling large crowds and equipped with firearms in the event of an active shooter situation.
Experience working with churches is a plus, but not a necessity. A reputable security firm with armed guard training and extensive event training will run a strong security operation. Ask them if they have this type of experience. Have them give you real examples of how they crafted a security plan for a previous church or large public gathering.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for references. If a security company works extensively with churches, specifically ask them to use one of those churches as a reference. Good security companies are happy to have their work validated by their clients.
Appearance and customer service are everything
Church is about community, and ideas should matter to everyone involved with your church, including your security team. This means that when you hire for security, appearance and customer service are among the most important qualities to vet. Security officers are often among the first people visitors see when entering the church. You want security guards who are focused on the job but also warm, respectful conversationalists. Security guards who create a feeling of warmth and respect set a tone of safety. Security guards should be willing to give a friendly greeting to congregants.
In a perfect world, security guards wouldn’t be around at all. But if they are working at your church, they should create a feeling of safety, not nervous tension.
Good customer service and communication skills are also essential to proactive de-escalation. Communication is the security guard’s most effective tool. You might encounter situations where someone approaches the church agitated, confused or emotional, and a guard who approaches them with friendly strength and confidence can defuse potentially sticky situations before they escalate and calm most situations before they arise. Sometimes, a friendly “How can I help you?” is all a security guard needs to neutralize the situation.
Most importantly, sociable security guards build trust. When congregants feel comfortable with the security team, the team becomes an extension of their eyes and ears. Approachable security personnel are more likely to receive tips from members about suspicious behavior. Hire a security team that knows how to communicate with customers. The best way to vet this is during the interview process. If a team’s manager can hold a good conversation, the team probably can as well.
The fact of the matter is that the biggest threats to churches are not petty thieves but people looking to use deadly force. You need security personnel who know how to handle potentially deadly situations. Managing a church is busy work; don’t waste your time interviewing people who don’t meet basic licensing and insurance standards.
Appearance is also essential when hiring the right security team. You aren’t trying to be discreet with church security. You want them to be easy to see so they serve as a soft deterrent for potentially dangerous people. When bad actors see armed guards, they are less likely to mess with that church. It signals to your congregation and to bad actors that this church has a disciplined security plan.
An acceptable security appearance balances approachability with authority. You don’t want security guards who look armed to the teeth. You want a security team wearing matching polos, clean slacks, and clear identification. Ask prospective security companies to share their standard uniform.
Site assessment before contract
To develop a plan, security teams will conduct a site assessment. This means a security company will walk the grounds of your church and ask questions about your service to estimate the type of security your church needs. A reputable security company will conduct this site assessment before contracting with you. The site assessment is how a security team determines costs, so I would avoid working with any firm that won’t do this assessment before making you sign a contract.
Price transparency should be a value for physical security firms, and they shouldn’t try to commit the church to a partnership before being honest about cost. Don’t work with security firms that don’t conduct a pre-contract site assessment.
Frank Sheldone is the Founder and President of Armor Protection Group, a private security company in Phoenix.
The security firm specializes in helping churches protect their congregants and property from threats, vandalism and attacks.
