{"id":23235,"date":"2024-07-05T11:08:04","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T15:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=23235"},"modified":"2024-07-05T11:08:04","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T15:08:04","slug":"christian-warrior-training-grows-in-popularity-as-churches-put-faith-in-guns-amid-attacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2024\/07\/christian-warrior-training-grows-in-popularity-as-churches-put-faith-in-guns-amid-attacks","title":{"rendered":"‘Christian Warrior Training’ Grows in Popularity As Churches Put Faith in Guns Amid Attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Churchgoers are now signing up for \u2018warrior training\u2019 and arming themselves before heading into weekly services, as violent attacks in houses of worship surge nationwide. Sheepdog Church Security, founded by Kris Moloney in 2014, is one company that trains volunteer security and safety teams to protect houses of worship while keeping \u2018faith at the center.\u2019 When he first created the company, Moloney didn\u2019t have much competition, but a decade later, church attacks are at an all-time high, and the protection industry is booming.<\/p>\n

Moloney, who has a background in the military and law enforcement, initially ran a safety team at his church in\u00a0Minnesota. Since then, he’s trained over 6,000 people in houses of worship nationwide. He told the Idaho Statesman, <\/em>\u201cYou want it to be open and welcoming and so forth, and yet provide (the) safety and security needed. So those of us who do carry firearms, we do so on a concealed basis. We have the protection we need, and yet we’re not ostentatious about it.\u201d The number of parishioners signing up for Moloney’s training has surged as religious institutions increasingly come under the threat of violent attack across America.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cIf you just Google ‘church security, there’ll be 100,000 hits.\u201d The program offers a manual on safety drills for churches and helps build out what many call ‘safety ministries’ – a combination of armed and unarmed volunteers ready to respond to emergencies, be it a medical case requiring CPR or a shooter in the building. The ‘practical drill and scenario training’ manual consists of a hands-on approach to managing emergencies, from de-escalating disruptive situations to managing bomb threats and active shooter incidents. It also includes theoretical understanding and practical application, providing a holistic approach to safety training. His\u00a0website\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>and email list combine Christian and security imagery, featuring Bible quotes alongside advice on defending against violent intruders.<\/p>\n

His advertisements include images of a handgun atop a Holy Bible, as he is billed as a \u201cProtector of the People and Guardian of the Church.\u201d Churches nationwide are also implementing security training among pastors and congregants.\u00a0In Tennessee, one church held active shooter training for church pastors, and in Houston, spiritual leaders started getting security training after the Lakewood Church shooting. Leaders at Clays Mill Baptist Church in Kentucky have also organized a security conference.<\/p>\n