It sounds like you have done the wise thing of contacting the FBI and having an informed security team.
After reading most of the posts on this thread I am concerned. Both about the possability of an attack on a church but also that the “church” is in the mindset that we need to arm ourselves and be ready to kill other humans. My fear would be that the churches become fearful of middle eastern young men, one of these young men shows up at church because they are a Christian, and speaking poor English thinks he is asking directions to the bathroom, and then is tackled or worse...
I would offer a few versus to think on during this time...
Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Some have pointed out that we are at war...I would agree...but our war is not going to be won with guns because our war is a spiritual war. We must fight for the very souls of these young men that walked through your church...
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
I would continue with the security measures but then go on the offensive...which it looks like your church has...”witnessing to Muslims in Dearborn”...and then as the song I am listening to states “Get on your knees and fight like a man”...I admit I still like my old Petra tapes.
God bless
Certainly wisdom and discernment and some caution are in order.
Stupidity, naivete and passive submission are not.
Maybe you missed this...he wasn’t a “terrorist” in the Islamic sense of the word, but a “terrorist” nonetheless.
If that woman had not been armed, many would have died. The guy had enough ammo to kill dozens. From the article:
“The killer showed up with 2 handguns, a rifle and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. He killed two teenaged girls (16 and 18) in the parking lot and then entered the church where he began shooting. The potential for disaster was incredible”
Any church (large church especially where no one knows those that are normally there, versus those who aren’t, is sticking their head in the sand if they don’t have security. Are you implying that church wasn’t “fighting like a man” (on their knees)... and that resulted in the death of those two teenagers?
http://www.qando.net/details.aspx?entry=7412
Petra is still an absolute favorite of mine!
Another Petra fan here, too.