SAN ANTONIO — Faith leaders in San Antonio are once again emphasizing the need for enhanced safety and security after recent incidents involving armed individuals at churches nationwide.
“To my leaders, I reminded them we've got to watch, fight and pray,” said Kevin Nelson, lead pastor at Calvary Baptist Church.
Nelson’s urgent reminder comes just days after an armed 16-year-old boy attempted to enter a Louisiana church over the weekend. Parishioners at Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Abbeville confronted the armed teenager, escorting him outside until police arrived.
A week earlier, police in Pennsylvania arrested a man at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church when he attempted to shoot a pastor mid-service. The incident was caught on video as the man is seen pulling out a gun on the pastor during his sermon. A church deacon tackled the gunman to the ground.
Calvary Baptist Church is equipped with cameras and licensed armed parishioners. Nelson said conversations about how best to bolster security never end as he regularly collaborates with fellow church leaders in San Antonio.
“I’m really more concerned about the smaller churches, that they may not have people power or financial resources to provide some type of security,” Nelson said.
He recalls the tense moments when parishioners stepped in to stop an aggressive parishioner who Nelson said came up from behind him while preaching the word of God. No one was injured.
“It took me a minute to kind of tune in that it was a mental situation. Thank God we were able to handle to it,” Nelson said.
The Islamic Center of San Antonio has employed armed guards to be present during various prayers throughout the day while patrolling during Islam’s holiest months.
“We went from zero security in the morning and evening (to) now we have at least one person,” said the Islamic Center of San Antonio’s Michael Martin.
Some financial relief from the federal government is on the way for places of worship. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a boost of $400 million in grant funds for religious institutions looking to improve security measures.
The deadline to apply for the first round of funding is May 21.
Martin said the funding would be beneficial to help supplement much needed surveillance upgrades.
“One of the things is we need to increase that expense that’s associated with more cameras, better cameras," Martin said. "If you have good quality, they can enhance that. They can enhance people’s facial features."
A representative with the Archdiocese of San Antonio provided an emailed statement detailing their commitment to innovating security and safety, saying all areas of church facilities "receive vigilant attention.
"Our personnel are in regular communication with first responders and law enforcement regarding security measures and concerns," the archdiocese's statement goes on to read. "There is no room for complacency in these plans. Security programs are constantly being studied, and everyone present on our properties is requested to immediately report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement authorities."
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