In light of Sunday's mass shooting at a church in Texas, the Missouri Highway Patrol reminds residents the agency offers a program to help implement security measures at churches.
The patrol's Church Safety Program, intended for members of church security teams, is taught by public safety officers at each Highway Patrol troop. The program helps establish specific tasks and precautions for church members to perform at each church gathering - like seating people in strategic spots so they can see people entering or leaving the church and how to check interior rooms such as storage areas, back entrances and kitchen areas while church is in session.
Many local churches have had their safety teams take such courses.
"It's not just for something like a shooting, but for any type of an emergency such as fire or tornado," said Doyle Sager, senior pastor at Jefferson City First Baptist Church. "It's unfortunately how things are going in the world we live in. I tell people I'm spending more of my days training for things I didn't train for in the seminary.
"The world has changed, and we have to live with that vulnerability while still practicing Christ-like love."
"Whenever you have a gathering of a large group of people, there's always a risk no matter what measures you may take," Concord Baptist Church Pastor Monte Shinkle said.
"We have a team made up of many active and retired law officers, and a number of them do carry a weapon. Our guys have really studied the nuances of this, but it doesn't mean you're not vulnerable from something happening."
For more information about the Church Safety Program in Mid-Missouri, call the Highway Patrol's Troop F headquarters in Jefferson City at 573-751-1000.