The term “soft target” refers to locations that are accessible to the public, have predictable schedules, and lack visible security measures. Unfortunately, churches fit this profile almost perfectly. Here are seven signs your congregation may be more vulnerable than you realize.
1. No One Is Assigned to Watch the Door
During services, your main entrance is often unmanned. Anyone can walk in unannounced. A simple greeter-with-awareness protocol can dramatically change this.
2. You Have No Emergency Action Plan
If something happened right now — a medical emergency, a fire, an active threat — would your staff know what to do? If you have to think about it, the answer is probably no.
3. Your Staff Has Never Run a Drill
Plans that exist only on paper fail in real emergencies. Muscle memory and practiced responses are what actually save lives under pressure.
4. You Don’t Know Who’s in Your Building
Large churches often have dozens of rooms in use simultaneously — nurseries, classrooms, fellowship halls. Do you have a system for knowing who is where during an emergency?
5. Your AED Is Locked Away or Hard to Find
If your AED is in a locked cabinet in a back hallway, it might as well not exist. AEDs need to be visible, accessible, and known to your team.
6. You’ve Never Assessed Your Sight Lines
Blind spots, obstructed entry points, poor parking lot visibility — these are the kinds of physical vulnerabilities that a simple walkthrough can identify and address.
7. Your Nursery Has No Check-In System
Child security is one of the most overlooked areas in church safety. A basic check-in/check-out protocol protects children and protects your church from liability.
What to Do Next
If several of these apply to your church, you’re not alone — and it’s not too late. A safety assessment from Shepherd Shield Consulting will identify your specific vulnerabilities and give you a clear, prioritized action plan.