Church Safety & Security Conference for Grayson Baptist

On Saturday, July 19th, church leaders and members from across Grayson County gathered at Fairview Baptist Churchfor our first Safety & Security Church Conference, hosted by the Grayson Baptist Association. The event drew strong interest even making the local news and featured insights from Kelley Adley, Senior Public Safety Strategist, former law enforcement investigator, and Master Peace Officer with over 20 years of experience.

Adley reminded us that this conference wasn’t the end of a discussion, but the beginning of one. His challenge was clear: How are our churches thinking about preparedness?

We know Scripture teaches that the enemy comes “to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). So why would we assume our churches are immune to danger if we gather without any plans in place?

This conference gave us practical tools for:

• Developing a Safety Plan

• Building and Training a Team

• Identifying Weak Points in our facilities and routines

But more than that, it stirred a much-needed conversation about how we care for one another in moments of crisis.

Questions to Consider for Your Church's Safety

As your church continues this conversation, here are a few questions to discuss with your leadership and safety team:

• Does our church currently have a written safety plan?

• Who is responsible for leading or coordinating safety efforts in our congregation?

• Do our greeters, ushers, and volunteers know what to do in case of an emergency?

• How do we handle medical emergencies during services or events?

• Are we paying attention to entry points, parking lots, and children’s areas?

• Have we connected with local law enforcement for support or training?

• Does our plan account for the 99% likely emergiences (heart attack, mentally unhealthy disturbances, crisis counseling?) Active shooting is less than 1%

• Do we have our roles outlined? The pastor's role in emergency, staff's role & saftety team's role?

These are not easy questions, but they are essential if we want to shepherd our people well and honor God by protecting His flock.

What’s Next for GBA Churches

One of the best parts of being part of the GBA is that we don’t do ministry alone. As an association, we are working to provide sample safety plans and resources for our member churches. These will be made available soon and will help every church, big or small, take the first steps toward preparedness.

👉 If you’re not already subscribed to our GBA updates, make sure you do so today! That way you’ll be among the first to receive these resources as they roll out.

The conference at Fairview Baptist was a powerful reminder: church safety is not about fear, but about stewardship. We prepare not because we doubt God’s protection, but because we take seriously our call to shepherd, protect, and care for His people.

Together, let’s keep this conversation going.