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Central Florida congregations rethink security after deadly Texas church shooting

By Ken Tyndall
By Ken Tyndall
As the country reeled Monday after a shooting at a church in Texas that left 26 people dead and 20 injured – 10 critically – congregations in Central Florida have been asking if they are safe.
Northland Church member Sadie Miller said that it was a hard realization knowing that something like the shooting in Texas could happen locally.
“You think that you’re safe being in church, and you’re really, like, nowhere that’s safe, I guess,” she said.
During a service Monday night at Northland’s Longwood campus, the congregation remembered those who lost their lives in Texas.
Northland lead pastor Vernon Rainwater said many church members have been asking if something like the Texas shooting could happen here.
“We’ve taken every measure we know to take to make sure that people on this campus are safe,” Rainwater said. “We have extensive security protocols in place.”
First Presbyterian senior pastor Dr. David Swanson said members of his congregation have been asking the same thing.
The tragedy in Texas caused church leaders to re-examine security protocols at First Presbyterian, Swanson said.
“We’ve been working today on being sure we’re doing everything we can in order to be sure our members are safe and our facility is secure. Not just on Sunday mornings, but all week long,” he said.
While the shooting in Texas has left some parishioners feeling uneasy, they say it won’t keep them from attending church.
“I think they have incredible security guards here, and you can’t take worship away from people,” Northland Church member Carianne Reggio said. “It’s so very essential.”
Northland Church leaders have made their security staff available to other churches in the area to consult on ways they can make their congregations safer.

Cox Media Group

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