Area church leader says services are safe despite recent Texas shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Three people are dead, including the gunman, after a shooting at West Freeway Church of Christ in Texas.

The shooting happened Sunday morning and has quickly gained national media attention.

Church security is being brought into question with area pastors assuring their congregations that church is still a safe place.

When the video of the Texas Church shooting surfaced online, Life Church Pastor Jody Andrews didn’t know what to think.

“It’s hard to believe again… another incident like this,” said Andrews.

Life Church has an official security team– some of them with a background in law enforcement.

“We have some law enforcement that are a part of that team, and then just regular on-going parishioners in the church that are just interested in keeping the area safe… We actually have an unmarked security person in the parking lot already outside the building that’s always keeping an eye,” said Andrews.

Andrews said every time a similar news story breaks, he has a meeting with his team.

“We’ll talk about those things, like, we actually look at the situation and say ‘if this happened here, what would we do?'” said Andrews.

Some of his team members are allowed to carry guns.

“Most of them are concealed, like, no one would know. From time to time, we do have law enforcement that may be identified whether it’s by uniform or by badge or something like that. Some of them will… we will have an officer from time to time that will open carry… We want them to feel safe. So, we definitely want that culture to be here… a safe atmosphere and a safe place for families to meet,” said Andrews.

For anyone concerned about their safety at church, Andrews has one thing to say.

“Don’t stay away from a place of worship because of these situations. Don’t let your regular routine change. Things could happen anywhere at any time– whether you’re at the mall, or whether you’re out to eat, whether you’re in a church service somewhere. People are people, and you’re going to have situations happen all the time,” said Andrews.

Andrews said his church has been praying for those affected in the Sunday Texas shooting as well as Saturday’s Anti-Semitic attack in New York.