2026 TRAINING WORKSHOP AGENDA
FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2026
12:00 – 12:30 Welcome, Purpose & Weekend Objectives
§ Opening remarks
§ Why this training matters now
§ Clear articulation of Key Takeaways for the weekend:
a) Safety and security leadership begins top-down
b) Church security is a shared responsibility across the entire ministry
c) Preparedness without fear - ministry-driven security
d) Clear communication and decision-making under stress
12:30 – 12:50 Church Security 101:
Understanding How Everyone Is a Part of Church Security
§ Church security is a shared responsibility, not just a safety team function
§ The role of pastors, staff, ushers, greeters, volunteers and congregants
§ How everyday ministry interactions contribute to prevention, awareness and early intervention
§ Establish a culture where safety supports ministry – not fear
§ Clear expectations, boundaries and coordination between staff and the safety team
12:50 – 1:20 Threat Environment Briefing (30 Minutes)
§ Current domestic threat trends affecting houses of worship
§ Behavioral indicators and pre-incident warning signs
§ Lessons learned from recent attacks in churches and public venues
§ Understanding realistic threats without creating fear or distraction from ministry
1:20 – 2:20 Church Threat Assessments:
The Foundation of Effective Security
§ What a proper threat-driven church assessment is and what it is not
§ Why assessments must precede training, equipment or staffing decisions
§ Common assessment failures churches unknowingly make
§ Translating assessment findings into practical, defensible security improvements
§ How assessments support grant funding, insurance considerations and liability reduction
2:20 – 3:20 Interactive Scenario Training (MILO Green Screen)
§ Group-based interactive decision-making
§ Realistic church-specific scenarios
§ Leadership communication and response under stress
§ Instructor-led debriefs following each scenario
§ Table breakout sessions integrated into scenario learning for guided discussions and decision-making
3:30 – 4:00 Mental Health Awareness: Helping the Hurting
§ Recognizing behavioral indicators of emotional distress and crisis
§ Understanding the intersection of mental health and security
§ Practical approaches for staff and safety teams when engaging hurting individuals
§ De-escalation, compassion and appropriate referral pathways
§ Protecting dignity while maintaining safety for the congregation
4:00 – 4:30 Saturday Preview & Closing
§ Overview of Saturday’s operational and hands-on training
§ Open Q&A
§ Closing remarks
SATURDAY AUGUST 29,2026
8:30 – 8:50 Opening Message to Church Staff
§ Ministry-first approach to safety and security
§ Why skill, preparation and commitment matter
§ Creating a culture of calm readiness and servant leadership
8:50 – 10:00 Church Safety Team Operations 101
§ How teams must train together to work together
§ Roles, responsibilities and command structure
§ Integration with church leadership and staff
§ Accountability, consistency and continuous improvement
10:00 – 11:00 Communication Under Stress
§ Verbal communication with staff and congregants
§ Radio communication fundamentals
§ Clear, calm and authoritative messaging during incidents
§ Preventing confusion and panic
11:00 – 12:00 Case Study: Las Vegas Incident
§ “It can happen anytime, anywhere”
§ Lessons learned from attendee and responder perspectives
§ Application to houses of worship
§ Decision-making successes and failures
12:00 – 1:30 Lunch & Vendor Interaction
§ Food trucks available on site
§ Time for networking and vendor engagement
1:30 – 2:15 Guest Speaker:
Gerald Irwin - Liberty University Chief of Police
2:15 - 3:15 LionHeart Instructor Presentations
§ Additional LionHeart speakers
§ Advance lessons from real-world experience
§ Scalable security considerations for growing ministries
3:15 – 4:00 Open Q&A and Closing
§ Extended Q&A
§ Final guidance
§ How churches can engage LionHeart for assessments, training and ongoing support
Additional Notes
§ LionHeart information table available throughout Saturday
§ Opportunity for churches to discuss follow-on assessments and training engagements