Protecting the Congregation: What to Do When a Threat Comes to Church

What would you do if someone opened fire outside your church? Would you recognize signs of a potential threat? And if your children were in Sunday school when an emergency started, would you know how they were being protected? In this episode of The Watch Floor, former CIA Targeting Officer Sarah Adams walks through the threats facing churches and religious communities, from terrorism and targeted violence to suspicious surveillance, theft, arson, and threatening individuals. Drawing on real attacks and her experience briefing churches on security, Sarah explains what warning signs to recognize, when to report suspicious activity, and how to make decisions when a threat becomes an emergency. The episode also covers protecting children's ministries, responding to an active shooter, handling suspicious packages, medical preparedness, and the steps churches can take now to protect their congregations. This is a practical episode for churchgoers, pastors, volunteers, and security teams to save, share, and revisit. Because recognizing a threat is only the beginning. Knowing what to do next could save lives.