The 5:30 p.m. service tonight is going to be different.
First, after singing one song to get everyone into place (I’m looking at you, late-comers!), we’ll jump straight into a sermon about self defense.
Then, our security team will take over.
Bro. Si Rangel created a plan on what we should do if an active shooter entered any of our services—Sunday school, Sunday morning worship, Sunday night, or Wednesday night—and instead going over it with only a small team, I wanted everyone to know the plan.
He told me there have already been 50 safety incidents involving weapons in 2023, and I am glad we have people in place every service in case an incident occurred here.
I pray that it never happens, but it is good to know that we have a plan in place in case it does happen. It is a sin-cursed world that we live in, and the most loving thing we can do for our families is to plan to eliminate any threat as swiftly as possible.
Blessed are the peacemakers, yes, but “peacemakers” is not a term of all-encompassing pacifism—as if we are to just take it if a killer walks into our room. Self-preservation is natural, and protecting the ones we love is what a family does. That’s right. To stand back and let a killer take life after life in the name of “turning the other cheek” is not only wrong, it’s stupid! Common sense tells you that.
So, join us tonight, would you?
Retired LA County Sheriff Lieutenant Roman Marino will also be with us to explain the statewide law enforcement’s planned response and what we can expect from them from the time someone dials 9-1-1 to the time that they arrive.
This will be an important night, and will include information that I hope we will never have to use.
I love you, church. One expression of that love is through planning and protection—and in this case, it is physical more than spiritual. May God be glorified today.
–Pastor Ryan