Shows / Sanctuary Peacemakers
Sanctuary Peacemakers
We discuss safety and security in houses of worship, including team development, training, and real-world challenges facing churches today.
Episodes
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
If God Protects Us, Why Do We Need Guns in Church?
If God protects His people, why do we need guns in church? Does having an armed safety ministry demonstrate a lack of faith, or can preparation be an…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Church Safety Doesn't Start With the Safety Team
Church safety is everyone's responsibility, but responding to a threat isn't everyone's assignment. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, Unity explores…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Guarding the Flock: From Brainstorm to Book
In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, Unity celebrates the release of his first book, Guarding the Flock: A Safety Ministry Field Guide. From the original…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
When a Step Back Is a Step Forward
Sometimes moving forward requires changing where you stand. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, I reflect on a simple change during a Sunday service that…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
What Happens When You’re Not There?
What happens to your church safety ministry when the leader isn’t there? In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we look at the difference between leading a…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Why Do They Need to Know That?
Most people asking questions about your church are simply trying to find their way. But what happens when the questions start becoming unusually focused on…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Everybody Has a Radio. Nobody’s Communicating
Having radios doesn’t necessarily mean your church safety ministry is communicating effectively. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we look at what…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
When the Problem Is on Your Own Team: Accountability in Church Safety Ministry
Leading a church safety ministry sometimes means having difficult conversations with the very people serving beside you. In this episode of Sanctuary…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
102 Minutes That Lasted a Lifetime: Remembering September 11
Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, some memories still feel remarkably close. In this special episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, I share a personal…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Protected, Not Policed
A church safety ministry should provide a sense of security without making worship feel like a security checkpoint. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Sometimes Safety Is Supposed to Be Boring
Church safety conversations often focus on violence and active shooters. Those threats deserve preparation—but they aren’t the only emergencies a congregation…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Less-Lethal Does't Mean Harmless
Less-lethal tools can sound like the perfect compromise for a church safety ministry—but less-lethal does not mean harmless. In this episode of Sanctuary…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
I Thought That Was Legal: Why Church Safety Ministries Need to Know the Law
Good intentions aren’t enough when your church safety ministry is operating on assumptions about the law. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we look at…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
It Doesn't Happen Overnight: Building a Church Safety Ministry
Every strong church safety ministry started with a first step. In this episode, I share the story of building our ministry from the ground up, the lessons…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
The Legacy I Almost Missed
This week's episode is deeply personal. After the passing of my father, I found myself writing a eulogy—and in the process, discovering a legacy I never fully…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
How Church Safety Changed Me
Church safety has taught me far more than how to recognize threats or respond to emergencies. It has changed the way I see ministry, leadership, and the people…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
When the Threat Is a Familiar Face: Domestic Violence and Church Safety
Domestic violence does not always stay behind closed doors. It can follow someone to work, to school, and even into the church. In this episode, we look at…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
When the Service is Over, but the Watch Isn't: Lessons from St. John's Lutheran Church
On July 5, 2026, church security at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Effingham, Illinois, contacted law enforcement about a suspicious vehicle and a suspicious…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Standing in a Moment Frozen in Time: Crosspointe Church, One Year Later
Nearly one year after the attempted mass shooting at Crosspointe Church, I returned—not to revisit the headlines, but to conduct safety-ministry training…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
When the Threat Is the Reaction
Bomb threats should always be taken seriously, but they should also be handled with calm, clear thinking. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we look at…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
What Safety Ministries Should Keep Confidential
Not everything a safety ministry knows needs to become public church information. In this episode, we talk about the importance of confidentiality within…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Protecting the Vulnerable: Understanding Dyslexia in the Church
What happens when a child believes they’re “dumb”? In this episode, dyslexia researcher Russell Van Brocklen joins us to discuss dyslexia, learning…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
What Children’s Ministry Workers Should Know About Safety
In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we look at the overlap between children’s ministry and safety ministry. Children’s ministry workers do not need to…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
When a Church Steps Into the Crowd
In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we look at what happens when a church leaves its own property and steps into a public setting like a parade. Using…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
When Children’s Events Change the Routine
In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we look at safety ministry during on-site children’s events like VBS and other special activities at the church…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Disability Ministry & Church Safety: What Churches Need to Understand
In this episode, I’m joined by John Fela, a special needs father, advocate, speaker, and author who works to support families navigating disability, especially…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Safety Team or Safety Ministry? Why the Difference Matters
What is the difference between a safety team and a safety ministry? In this episode, I talk about why that distinction matters more than people may think. This…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Church Safety: Behavioral Threat Assessment in Real Life
In this episode, I’m joined by Rodney Carpentier, a law enforcement lieutenant and co-leader of a Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) team, to…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Recognizing the Warning Signs Before Violence | Robert Mahoney
Most people think violence is random—but there are often warning signs long before anything happens. In this episode, I’m joined by Robert Mahoney, founder of…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Church Safety: The Sanctuary Blindspot (Welcoming vs Awareness)
This episode features Robert Siciliano, CEO of Protect Now LLC and the architect of the Strategic Human Firewall. You can learn more about his work at…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Bonus: After the Interview with Eric Robinson
This is a bonus conversation with Eric Robinson after the main interview—more informal, but still some valuable insight.
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Church Safety: Would You Recognize a Gunshot in Time?
Most people don’t recognize a gunshot right away—and that delay matters. In this episode, former FBI agent Eric Robinson breaks down what people get wrong, why…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Church Safety: What Happens When Protests Reach Your Church
Most churches don’t think about protests until they’re already happening. In this episode, former FBI agent Eric Robinson breaks down how these situations…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Church Security Insights from a Former FBI Agent & Pastor | Eric Robinson
In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, I’m joined by Eric Robinson—a former FBI agent, SWAT operator, firearms instructor, and pastor—who brings a rare and…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
What Comes Next After a Church Attack? The Future of Crosspointe and Moving Forward
After a critical incident, what comes next? In this final segment, we discuss Crosspointe Church’s path forward and the key lessons churches can take moving…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Conversation With Jay Trombley — Part 4: Aftermath
Continuing my conversation with Jay Trombley about the Crosspointe Church incident. After a brief break last week, we dive back in and pick up where we left…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Jay Trombley Interview Continues Next Week
Quick update for listeners. The ongoing interview series with Jay Trombley about the Crosspointe Church incident will continue next week. Thanks for your…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
When Headlines Fade: The Aftermath of the Crosspointe Church Attack
Part three of my conversation with Jay Trombley shifts from the incident itself to the aftermath. We discuss what followed the Crosspointe Church attack—the…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Under Fire: The June 22, 2025 Incident at Crosspointe Church (Interview with Jay Trombley)
On June 22, 2025, a violent incident unfolded at Crosspointe Church in Wayne, Michigan. In this interview, safety officer Jay Trombley walks us through the…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Ready for the Unthinkable: Church Security, Faith, and Preventing Tragedy
What does it really take to be ready for the unthinkable? In this five-part interview series, we sit down with Jay Trombley, a member of the Crosspointe Church…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Church Colaberation
We are exploring how churches can work together to strengthen their safety and security teams. Learn practical steps for sharing resources, coordinating…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Volunteer Training and Team Coordination: Closing Out the Series
We're closing out the series on megachurch versus small church security comparison. Learn how to train volunteers, coordinate teams, and make cameras, alarms…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Technology in Children's Ministry
Children's ministry safety requires more than locks or cameras. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, learn how small churches and megachurches can use…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Communication Tools: The Most Important Technology You Own
Communication is the backbone of church security. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, learn how small churches and megachurches can use radios, apps, and…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Alarms in Churches: Early Warning, Not Guaranteed Protection
Alarms alert—they don’t stop threats. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we show small churches and megachurches how to implement alarms effectively…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Cameras in Churches: Awareness at the Right Scale
Cameras don’t stop threats—they help you see them. In this episode of Sanctuary Peacemakers, we break down how small churches and megachurches can right-size…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Megachurch Vs. Small Church Series-Part One: Technology
This is part one of a six part series comparing the security needs of megachurches versus smaller churches. In this episode we take a look at the technology…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Comprehensive Event Security Planning for Churches: Ensuring Safety at Large Gatherings and Special Services
In this episode, we dive into the essentials ofevent security planning for churches, focusing on large gatherings, concerts, and special services. Learn best…
Sanctuary PeacemakersBuilding the Security Culture
This episode explains how to build a culture of safety and security at your church, and how to recruit you volunteers.
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Situational Awareness
An introduction to situational awareness and what it actually is. Not paranoia, but an awareness of what is going on within your surroundings.
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Rise of Violence In Houses of Worship
This is a comprehensive explanation of the rise of violence in churches and houses of worship with some suggestions on how to work towards making you sanctuary…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Church Security on a Budget
This episode talks about different ways you can still create an effective church safety and security team, even in a smaller church with a smaller budget.
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Armed at Church
We are talking about what security teams for houses of worship need to consider before being armed.
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
After the Terror
What happens after a mass casualty event? From the minutes after it ends, to the years after when victims are still trying to pick up the pieces. This episode…
- Sanctuary Peacemakers
Introducing: Sanctuary Peacemakers
This is our introductory podcast telling who we are, what we do, and why it is important. We talk about all things church safety and security, including…