Pastor Mark Whitlock

Securing God’s Sanctuary

The vicious killing of nine people attending Bible Study at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, SC, has created a national concern for church safety. Most churches, as did Emanuel A.M.E. Church, welcome random, unknown visitors. Do we know who is coming inside church doors? Seldom does the church investigate a new person’s background to determine if the person has been diagnosed mentally unstable, prone to violence, pedophiles, rapists, or has a violent criminal history. Many large and small churches don’t have external and internal security cameras, metal detectors, armed security guards, or published security policies. Often, children are left alone