Ten years ago, I stood on the pavement outside Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. It was a warm June night, and the world had just shifted. Nine souls were taken in a place built for peace and prayer. I’ll never forget the grief in that community. I was there not just as a responder but as a witness to what happens when evil walks through the doors of a house of worship — and no one is prepared to stop it.
A decade later, another church — this time, CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan — faced its own test. But this story ended differently.
The Wayne, Michigan, Incident: Action Over Assumption
At CrossPointe Community Church, just after 11 a.m. on a Sunday, a man pulled up wearing a tactical vest, armed with a rifle and a handgun. He wasn’t a stranger — his mother was part of the congregation. He had sat in those pews before. But this time, he came to bring chaos.
What he didn’t count on was resistance.
Three volunteer security team members — all USCCA Members and recent graduates of our Protecting Your House of Worship training — confronted the attacker. Another member of the church used his truck as a weapon, striking the gunman and creating a crucial distraction.
Over 150 people made it home to their families that day. Not because evil didn’t arrive — but because good people were ready, willing and able to act.
Just One Week After Training
That’s a point worth reflecting on. One week before the incident, these men had gone through church security training. Coincidence? Luck? Maybe. But experience tells me this wasn’t either. This was an example of when a crisis meets preparation.
I’ve seen what happens when there’s no plan and no training standing between violence and the vulnerable. Wayne wasn’t perfect. But it was someone having the presence of mind and the conviction to do something. And decisive action, in a critical situation, saves lives. It certainly did at CrossPointe.
Security and Sanctity: Finding the Balance
I’ve spent years helping churches, schools and families wrestle with the hard question: “How do we protect people while keeping our doors and hearts open?” It’s not easy. Most churches operate on shoestring budgets and rely on volunteers. The idea of having a “security team” can feel at odds with faith and hospitality. But the truth is — and Charleston proved this to me a decade ago — evil does exist and it doesn’t care about your theology.
You don’t have to turn your sanctuary into a fortress. But you do have to face reality. Religious leaders must protect their flock. There are wolves out there, and so too, there needs to be a shepherd.
What Training Does (And Doesn’t) Do
To be sure, “training” isn’t a magic wand. It doesn’t make you brave. It doesn’t guarantee success. But it does give you a fighting chance. It helps you make decisions under pressure. The heroes in Wayne didn’t act because they had a certificate. They acted because something deeper drove them — love, duty and conviction. The training just helped them channel it.
A Decade of Perspective: From Charleston to Wayne
At Mother Emanuel, the killer spent an hour with his victims before opening fire. No one inside was armed. No one had a plan. Nine died.
In Sutherland Springs, Texas, 26 people were murdered in a matter of minutes. The shooter was only stopped after he exited the church and was confronted by an armed neighbor.
In Wayne, the attack was interrupted. That word matters.
We can’t change the fact that there are broken, dangerous people in the world. But we can change the outcome — if we’re willing to prepare.
What Churches Need to Ask Now
Each congregation has to navigate its own beliefs, risks and capacity. But ignoring the threat is no longer an option. Whether it’s training a volunteer team, adding technology or simply building a culture of situational awareness, there are steps every church can take.
Need a roadmap for those steps? Keeping Your Church Safe by Rob Aguiar is a practical, easy-to-follow blueprint trusted by church leaders nationwide ($30). Available from the USCCA Store, this comprehensive guide covers everything from volunteer training to facility security, making it ideal for establishing an effective security program for congregations of all sizes.
The USCCA’s church security program is designed to support that mission — not to militarize ministry but to empower communities to protect their own. This isn’t about fear. It’s about faith in action.
You can’t teach courage. But you can equip it. The defenders at CrossPointe didn’t hesitate. Whether that was instinct, faith, training or a combination of all three, it worked. That day, preparation didn’t make heroes. But it made their heroism effective. That’s the legacy I hope we honor — not just on this 10-year remembrance of Charleston, but in every church that believes evil should be resisted and the innocent should be protected.
Take Action to Protect Your House of Worship
If your church hasn’t had the conversation about security, now is the time. Help your church stay safe and prepared with the Protecting Your House of Worship program — the same active-shooter training course completed by the three defenders at CrossPointe Community Church. This course equips parishioners to recognize, react to and stop threats in a house of worship. Learn how to build a layered defense plan that protects your staff and congregation, so everyone can worship with peace of mind. Make preparedness a vital part of your ministry’s mission today.
