Violence is a national epidemic and even the decision to leave your home carries risks. Between school shootings, event tragedies, and shopping center attacks, countless of Americans congregate to their local or beloved house of worship to offer sympathy and pray for peace during the most disturbing times. Unfortunately, churches aren’t off limits to some the most depraved, disturbed, or violent domestic terrorists. There were nearly 140 church shootings between 1980 and 2005, and that number’s gotten so much bigger that there’s now a national church shooting database. Could those have been avoided or prevented with the right security measures? There’s no way to change the past, but there are some reasons a professional security guard may be beneficial to help reduce violent crime in churches and other houses of worship.

A Professional Security Guard Can Ease Underlying Burden

Members of a church’s congregation may opt to skip a sermon as the need arises, but that’s far more difficult for the actual religious leader of the establishment. Regardless of whom is in the house of worship, however, they are simply human. As such, a pastor, priest, rabbi, or Imam may have as strong emotions and fear as their followers. Yet, it’s their duty and responsibility to remain strong and offer praise, prayer, and hope on a weekly, and often daily, basis. The presence of a professional security guard can do wonders for moral support as the religious leaders help to ease burdens and provide hope for everyone in attendance.

A Professional Security Guard Can Help Channel Potential Chaos

In the event of a major scare or tragedy, the fight-or-flight response sets in and chaos can ensue. Even if someone swears it would never happen to them, the survival instinct is instilled in the human brain and the flight response is forced by the nervous system in times of great stress. The pastor or rabbi may actually find themselves among the scurrying congregation at the highest point of panic. A professional security guard can perform a variety of tasks to help ensure members and visitors alike stay calm and collected as they’re escorted to safety.

A Professional Security Guard Can Minimize Theft

Hopefully, disaster will never strike at your house of worship. But that doesn’t mean visitors and members won’t be targets of theft or other crime. Unoccupied rooms and parking lots are particularly common targets for petty and high-level criminals. Furniture and potentially valuable relics are easy to remove as the service commences. Unlocked vehicles are readily broken into for obvious valuables. Criminals can even get away with serious and often expensive damage to church property or locked cars without the right security elements in place. A professional security guard can be tasked with patrolling the property during service to help deter criminal activity.

A Professional Security Guard Can Help Your Congregation Grow

There are over 350,000 religious meeting houses nationwide, averaging 100-400 individuals per congregation. Most of those are open to the general public at some point and they all require active members to help the religious establishment fund various necessary programs to help the local residents and promote missionary endeavors. The monetary gifts and volunteer efforts from visitors and members are crucial to the survival of a religious institution. A bad or dangerous reputation can not only lead to low congregation numbers, but it can also ensure future members avoid the church altogether. Korner Security in Metro Detroit can provide the right professional security guard for your needs so your church can grow and flourish for years to come.