Yesterday I read the heartbreaking headline that there was a shooting and fire at a Michigan church. We grew up in Michigan and our families are still there. My first instinct was to find out where it happened, hoping it wasn’t where our loved ones attended. Thankfully, it wasn’t, but it was still a city I recognized. When tragedy strikes close to home, it hits differently. We’re praying for that church staff and congregation.
Churches are meant to be places of peace, comfort, and safety in their communities. And when something awful happens, the congregation often looks to the church even more for stability, for care, and for hope.
While tragedies like this make the headlines, the truth is most emergencies churches face are smaller and preventable. They include things like power outages, fires, storms, or safety hazards in the building. But whether it’s a headline-making event or something that seems minor, preparation can help make the difference in how your church is able to respond and keep caring for people.
Why Church Safety and Preparedness Matter
When I worked at the YMCA, we had a daycare on site and a multi-floor building. I brought the fire marshal in to walk through the building. He told us how quickly we should be able to clear the building during a fire, so we started doing quarterly surprise fire drills.
Through those drills, we were able to reduce the time it took us to get everyone—including the kids—out in time. They also showed us where our weak spots were.
We learned we needed volunteers in specific places to guide people out. We kept flashlights handy for dark or stormy conditions. And the drills helped us make sure alarms and strobes worked properly. More importantly, they gave our team confidence because we had practiced and knew what to do.
That’s the key. It’s not just about having safety equipment. It’s about knowing it works and knowing your people are ready to use it.
But it’s not always about emergencies. Everyday issues can be just as serious:
- A cracked sidewalk where an elderly member trips.
- A parking lot that feels unsafe after dark because of burnt-out lights.
- A fire extinguisher that hasn’t been inspected in years.
These things may seem small until they directly affect someone in your congregation. Managing these risks is part of caring for your church family. Regular safety checks can catch problems early, prevent accidents, and protect the ministry happening inside your building.
Safety and Security Beyond the Building
One of the core principles of facility management is safety and security. It’s our responsibility to provide a building that’s safe for staff and visitors, including well-lit, free of hazards, and maintained properly.
But with recent events at churches, there’s also a need to think about outside threats. I’ve seen churches put together volunteer safety teams, not as guards or police officers, but as watchful helpers. These volunteers were trained on what to look for, who to call, and how to react if something didn’t seem right.
Their presence created peace of mind and made the church feel safer. Safety is not only about the structure of your building, but about creating an environment where people can worship without distraction or fear.
How Churches Can Get Started with Safety & Preparedness
Emergency planning can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do everything at once. Start with small, practical steps:
Create and post an emergency contact list.
Include local police, fire, utilities, and any preferred contractors like fire or water restoration companies. Post copies in multiple places: near alarm panels, in the main office, and in the facility manager’s office.
Know where your shut-offs are.
In an emergency, you don’t want to lose time figuring out where the water, gas, or electrical shut-offs are located. Make sure more than one person on your team knows this.
Invite local fire and police departments for a walkthrough.
They’re often happy to help and can give practical recommendations to improve safety in your building. It’s also a good way to build relationships before an emergency happens.
Do a monthly safety walkthrough.
Take 30 minutes to walk through your building and grounds. Look for hazards, check fire extinguishers and emergency lighting, and make note of anything that needs to be fixed. Write it down so nothing gets overlooked.
Assign clear roles.
In a crisis, no one should be left wondering what to do. Decide ahead of time: who calls 911, who guides children out of classrooms, who checks restrooms, who communicates with the congregation.
Review and update your plan regularly.
Buildings age, staff changes, ministries grow. Review your plan annually so it stays accurate and effective for your church’s current needs.
Even if you only start with one or two of these steps, you’re already moving your church toward greater safety and preparedness.
Tools to Help Your Church Put a Plan in Place
I know most churches want to keep their members and communities safe. I know they want to be a place people can count on in uncertain times. And I also know that without a clear plan, response time is slower and leaders are left scrambling.
That’s why we created the Emergency Response & Risk Management Guide + Templates. It’s a practical starting point that walks you step by step through building your church’s plan, including:
- How to do a regular risk assessment of your building.
- A monthly safety inspection template to keep your walkthroughs consistent.
- Fillable emergency response templates for different situations (weather, fire, power loss, lockdown, active shooter, bomb threat).
- Training resources so your staff and volunteers know what to do.
- A disaster recovery template so your ministry can continue after a disruption.
It doesn’t try to predict every possible scenario. Instead, it gives you a framework that you can adapt to your building, your people, and your resources.
As a gift to help churches take action now, we’re offering $35 off the Emergency Response & Risk Management Guide + Templates through October by using code FALL35.
And if you have questions before buying, contact us to get your questions answered.
Preparedness Isn’t About Fear
Being prepared is about stewardship. It’s about responsibility. And most of all, it’s about caring for the people God has entrusted to your church.
Even small steps—like posting emergency contacts or checking fire extinguishers—make a difference. And with the right tools, your church can move from “we hope we’re ready” to “we know we’re ready.”
If your church doesn’t yet have an emergency and risk management plan in place, now is the time to start. Take small steps. Use resources that guide you. And keep moving forward.
Because when the unexpected happens, your congregation and community will need the church more than ever.
