I’’m posting this article on January 7. I’m going to make a prediction about something that will happen on or about January 19, 2020 (12 days from today).
It’s one of those predictions that I hope I’m wrong about, but I probably won’t be. More than likely, I’ll be right on target. Predictions are, to a great degree, based on past events: if something has repeatedly happened in the past, there’s a high probability it will happen again. So here goes...
“21 days from December 29, 2020, American churches will have forgotten what happened in a church in White Settlement, Texas on Sunday, December 29.”
On or about January 19, the American public, including the churches, will have forgotten what happened at a church in White Settlement, Texas on Sunday, December 29: a lone gunman entered a church and shot and killed two people. He was then shot to death by an armed man who served on the safety team at the church.
But it’s just a matter of time before this event goes to that place in our mind where all other such stories are tucked away - and we will simply forget about it.
Unfortunately, that won’t be the testimony of those who witnessed this tragedy. Their difficulties are just beginning. They will be haunted by the sight of what they observed for years to come. Every Sunday, for the next few years, some of the members in this church will sit nervously in their pews, fearful that another such scene will unfold before their eyes.
Some will have great difficulty sleeping: nightmares will stalk others. Truth is, the witnesses to this tragedy are forever changed.
In a few days from now, churches will fall back to sleep. It’ll be just like the other tragedies.
I’m reminded of Las Vegas on October 1st, 2017: 58 people shot to death and over 500 injured at an outdoor concert. And about a month later, a small church in Sutherland Springs, Texas had 26 worshipers shot to death, and 20 more injured, during the morning worship service.
And people are forgetting. I have actually talked to people who have no recollection of these events!
It’s understandable that we don’t want such tragedies embedded in our memory. But the downside of that is that we don’t allow these tragedies to awaken us to action - sustained , proactive responses.
I went to Sutherland Springs a day or two after that tragedy. While there I granted an interview to a news agency. I told them plainly: “What really bothers me is that in 21 days people will forget what happened here. The churches will go back to sleep.”
And that’s what happened.
On the twenty second day after the Sutherland Springs tragedy, a church called me and canceled a seminar. And then over the next few days, the concern that churches initially expressed had begun to fade. Somehow or another they convinced themselves the threat was not as bad as they thought. “It probably won’t happen HERE” - or so they thought.
Don’t misunderstand me: I’m okay with staying at home. I don’ t need to conduct seminars. I’m 62-years old. I’m tired. I’m “cool” hanging around with my children, pursuing a hobby, enjoying retirement after 35 years of police work. I’d like a vacation, perhaps a cruise or a few days on a beach. I considered going fishing more often, maybe even hunting. I served my time. It’s time for me to think about … “me.”
But I have a problem: I “sold out” years ago. I gave my life away when I was a teenager. I had so many plans, but then “something happened.” The God of heaven interrupted my agenda. He called me by name and purchased me with the blood of His only Son.
He then made something quite clear to me: “I’ll be calling the shots from here on out.”
And that is why I do what I do. Put simply, my life is not my own. I don’t get to have a say-so in my life. Heck - I don’t even have a life.
I am not in my choice of career. I didn’t ask to do this: I WAS TOLD.
I was told to warn the churches that violence was coming.
I was told to warn them that sexual predators would invade their churches, cozy up to the members, groom their children - and then molest them.
And they have.
I never foresaw the opposition I would endure. Some time back, I received an unsigned letter from someone who warned me that because of what I do, God would someday judge me. I never cease to marvel at the ignorance that exist in the minds of those who profess to know Christ.
I have pleaded with pastors, church staff’s, and their leadership, to prepare for this violence. And not only me, hundreds of others have done likewise.
A couple of years ago, I was speaking at one of our seminars in Kentucky. As I was giving my presentation, something strange occurred. All of a sudden, I could tell that something tragic was going to happen in that area - and would happen in the “next two weeks.” Don’t ask me how I knew: I just knew. And I told the attendees what I “saw.”
TWO WEEKS LATER... down the road from where we were conducting the seminar, a man entered onto church property and murdered the founding pastor‘s wife.
Pastor, church leaders: it is important that you understand “the times” in which we live. You must be as the sons of Issachar, whose story is told in 1 Chronicles 12:32 -
From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.
They understood the times. Do you? There are over 350 million guns in this country. And many of those guns are in the possession of men and women who would have no problem entering your sanctuary and gunning down your people. They are cold-blooded individuals who have sold their soul to Satan. And because they are his children, they will do as their father bids them, as Jesus confirmed in John 8:44 -
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning… “
The church in White settlement, Texas who endured this horrible tragedy, was obviously prepared. They “understood the times” and “knew what course to take.” If a “good man with a gun” had not stopped that “bad man with a gun,” there is no telling how many lives would have been lost.
And remember: this whole incident, from beginning to end, lasted only SIX seconds.
“Never forget, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.”
You must have TRAINED individuals in your church who are prepared to respond, as this church did. You must realize that the people in your church are THE FIRST RESPONDERS.
Never forget, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
Let me remind you WHY you should do this.
“Love” is the most powerful force in the universe. The scripture tells us that “love is the greatest.” If the love of Christ has taken hold of your heart, it should certainly motivate you to protect your flock. As the Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 13 :7 - “Love…always protects.”
Pastor, every night when you go home, do you not secure your property? You roll up the windows on your car and lock your doors. When the family has settled down for the night, you lock the doors of your house, and maybe turn on an outside light. Why do you do these things? Why don’t you just “have faith that God will protect you?”
You take these precautions because you love your family, and you’re doing all you can to protect them. So why would you think any less when you meet for worship, especially since violence in your house of worship is a possibility?
When you secure your property, you are merely fulfilling Proverbs 27:12 -
“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”
Do something TODAY. The clock is ticking: a few days from now this tragedy will have faded from our memory - and many will fall back to sleep.
And remember: FEAR IS NOT OUR MOTIVATION - we have nothing to fear. How do I know that? Because...
God the Father is on His throne.
God the Son is at His right hand
God the Spirit is in our hearts.
We have NO reason to PANIC…
But we have every reason to PREPARE.
LEARN THE LESSONS FROM THESE TRAGEDIES. PREPARE AND TRAIN. AND DO SO TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND FOR THE LOVE OF HIS PEOPLE.
Here are the subjects that are covered -
Active Shooter Neutralization and Lock Down Drills
Arson Prevention and Fire Drills for Churches
Church Safety/Security Volunteer Academy
Dealing with Disruptive Persons Using Verbal De-escalation
Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse in the Church
Severe Weather and Natural Disasters
Protecting Yourself and the Church with Use of Force Laws
Here is an offer we like to make you, one that will help you better protect your flock. We have never made this offer before. Here are the details:
We have access to a product that is excellent for training your safety team at your church. The cost is about 500 dollars. However, if you use the code “sheepdog2019” it will cut the price in half to about 250 dollars. Includes both the presentation bundles and online videos, this training system has everything your church needs to train your volunteers, who are not otherwise trained, to prevent and respond to various safety and security risks in and around Houses of Worship.
If you make this purchase, we will also give you - at NO additional price - the complete video of our Sheepdog Seminar. You will be given a code to access and download it totally free.
It includes:
Lt Colonel Dave Grossman’s The Bulletproof Mind
Jimmy Meeks’ presentation on several subjects, including prevention of sex crimes.
Carl Chinn
Officer Greg Stevens
Frank Pomeroy (the pastor of the church in Texas where 26 people were murdered inside the church
The award-winning movie Faith Under Fire that tells the story of the church massacre in an east Texas church in 1980.
To begin the process, or to purchase the training, CLICK HERE to learn about this training. If you make the purchase, we will be notified and then send you the link to download the entire Sheepdog Seminar at NO additional cost.
TEXAS CHURCH SAFETY TOUR - SUMMER OF 2020. Stephen Willeford and Jimmy Meeks will be conducting seminars across Texas this coming Summer. Stephen is the man who stopped the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas in November of 2017. Hearing the gunfire, he rushed to the scene with his rifle and shot - and stopped - the killer. These seminars will be conducted nightly in different churches throughout Texas. They will be done at a minimal cost. If interested, text “Texas tour” to 817.437.9693. We will respond ASAP.
