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What You Should Know to Prepare for Mobs Invading Church Services

A riotous and profane mob invaded a St. Paul, Minnesota church in the middle of its worship service January 18, 2026, under the guise of protesting US federal policy against illegal immigration.

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The angry horde shouted down the pastor as he was preaching and they confronted congregants with obscenities. Fortunately, early indications are that no one was killed or injured.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

Prudent church leaders should see this calculated anarchy as a harbinger of even worse disruptions coming in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead for their services and events. If your church has been on the fence deciding whether it needs a security team ministry, that decision should now be easily made in the affirmative.

FBI Ballistics Expert Explains Why the FBI Favors 9mm Ammunition

One of the most secretive facilities in American law enforcement is the FBI’s Ballistic Research Facility in Huntsville, Alabama.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, FBI: Reported Crime Statistics in America for 2024 ]

Up until now, the FBI has not been forthcoming about publicly explaining its reasons for selecting and using different pistol ammunition calibers at different times.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Concealed Carry Daily Prayer ]

But James Reeves, executive producer of TFBTV (The Firearm Blog TV), was able to record the TFBTV video interview below with “Scott,” the section chief of the FBI’s Ballistic Research Facility, who has been with the FBI for 23 years. His job is to make sure FBI agents have the best possible chance of surviving a gunfight.

Interview With Jason Russell, Founder & President of SEC

SemperVerus interviewed Jason Russell, former US Secret Service agent and founder and president of Secure Environment Consultants (SEC). Jason earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Western Michigan University and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Security Management from Michigan State University. He started his career at the Lansing Police Department.

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Please describe Secure Environment Consultants (SEC) and its mission.
Secure Environment Consultants (SEC) is a national security consulting and training firm dedicated to helping organizations protect people, mission, and continuity of operations. Our mission is rooted in prevention, preparedness, and people-first security strategies. We partner with organizations to assess risk, develop clear plans, and train teams to respond effectively to real-world threats. At our core, SEC exists to help leaders make informed decisions that reduce risk, strengthen resilience, and safeguard the communities they serve.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Interview With Christian Clark: Creator of Secure The Church App ]

Among the organizations SEC serves are houses of worship. What top security risks has SEC identified for faith-based organizations?
Faith-based organizations face a unique combination of risks due to their open and welcoming nature. Common concerns include:

The Parking Lot: The First Part of a Security Incident

The International Protective Security Board (IPSB) is an independent, nonprofit entity devoted to promoting the protection industry’s interests by focusing on protective security trends, best practices, and professional development.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Protection Book Review: Just 2 Seconds ]

With its Latin motto of “Vigilate” (keep watch or stay alert), “Semper Discentes” (always learning), and “Et Honorem” (and honor), it encompasses all public-facing sectors requiring security attention, including faith-based organizations.

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Its semiannual publication is The Close Protection & Security Journal. Volume 2, Issue 1 includes the article, “The Parking Lot: The First Part of a Security Incident” (PDF) by Greg Williams and Brian Marren of Arcadia Cognerati, the principles of which can be applicable for church security teams.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The 5 Lines of Defense in Church Security, Beginning Outside ]

It begins, “Before a school shooter can start killing, before a bank robber can pass a note to a teller, and before someone can rob a gas station, they have to pass through a parking lot. In the parking lot, the element of time and distance between the perpetrator and their victim already exists. You need to learn to exploit it to yield opportunity.”