When Spiritual Warfare Goes Temporal, Security Should Never be an Option
Wednesday, August 27, 2025, brought an unfathomable tragedy: a shooter opened fire through the windows during Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, killing two young children—ages 8 and 10—and injuring 17 others, including 14 children.
The violence struck at a place meant to be a sanctuary—a house of worship and learning—shattering the sense of safety for students, families, and clergy alike.
Carl Chinn, president of the Faith-Based Security Network, stands ready to offer immediate expert commentary and guidance on how organizations like churches and religious schools can proactively protect against such horrific threats.
As a leader in faith-based security, Chinn can speak to critical measures that institutions should urgently implement:
- Conduct a rapid threat-vulnerability assessment tailored to houses of worship and schools.
- Train clergy, staff, and volunteers in situational awareness and emergency response protocols.
- Reinforce building entry points and establish lockdown procedures to delay or prevent access by armed assailants.
- Integrate faith-sensitive active-shooter drills and communication practices that protect spiritual community while ensuring safety.
- Collaborate with local law enforcement to improve response times and develop shared incident-action plans.
This tragedy underscores that evil can strike even within sacred spaces. FBSN’s mission is clear: to serve as both shield and steward in helping places of worship uphold their calling—not as defenseless targets, but as informed, resilient sanctuaries.
Carl Chinn is available for immediate broadcast or print interviews, offering a calm, authoritative voice to help grieving communities move from shock to preparedness. He can offer tailored advice for faith communities nationwide, ensuring that response and prevention strategies honor both spiritual mission and moral responsibility.
Faith-based organizations cannot afford to wait for tragedy to strike before taking action. Every house of worship, school, and ministry must implement layered security measures, train staff and volunteers in emergency response, and establish clear communication with local law enforcement. Carl Chinn and FBSN can guide institutions in creating a proactive security culture that safeguards both people and sacred spaces. Preparedness is not just prudent—it is a moral obligation to protect the defenseless.
Would you like to arrange a live guest segment or a technical briefing with Carl Chinn today?
Related Articles:
Annunciation church school shooting kills kids in Minneapolis
Q&A:
- What immediate lessons can faith communities take from the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting?
- How can churches and religious schools balance being welcoming sanctuaries with the need for tighter security?
- What are the most overlooked vulnerabilities in houses of worship that attackers often exploit?
- Why is training clergy, staff, and volunteers in situational awareness so critical today?
- How should faith communities approach law enforcement partnerships without creating fear among congregants?
- What role does technology play in modern faith-based security, and where should investments be prioritized?
- How does FBSN help religious leaders prepare spiritually as well as practically for potential violence?
- What message do you want to send to communities grieving this tragedy while also looking ahead to prevention?
ABOUT CARL CHINN…
Carl Chinn is a thought-leader / teacher on intentional security readiness and operations at faith-based organizations. Among other contributions to ministry security, Chinn developed the threat intelligence program for New Life and managed it for ten years. He brought the same program to the Colorado Springs community through the Faith Based Safety Coalition which now serves as a model for other coalitions across the U.S.
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