Resilient Discipleship: Why Readiness Matters for the Church Today Chris Atkins
With over 25 years of service spanning intelligence, military, and ministry roles, Chris has led operations across more than 40 countries, specializing in security analysis, protective operations, intelligence, and emergency planning. As Director of Safety and Risk Management for a multi-site/multi-state church, he oversaw protective strategies for 14 campuses, supervised more than 200 contracted law enforcement officers, and provided leadership for a volunteer security team of over 700 personnel. His expertise lies in building faith-driven, resilient teams that protect the momentum of Gospel-centered movements.
In recent months, tragic headlines have reminded us again that churches are not immune to risk. From violence and fire to medical emergencies and storms, disruption often arrives without warning. Yet too often, churches either avoid the conversation out of fear or delegate responsibility to a small team of volunteers. The result is that when crisis comes, congregations are left unprepared, anxious, and distracted from their calling.
We believe readiness is not about fear or militarization. It is about discipleship. Scripture reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Readiness flows directly from this truth: the church is called to steward its people with wisdom and courage, equipping them to continue the work of the Gospel undisturbed.
When preparedness is framed this way, it becomes a ministry multiplier, not a burden. Resilient churches embody calm, credibility, and continuity — qualities that strengthen discipleship rather than compete with it.
Three Action Items for Ministry Leaders
1. Equip, Don’t Outsource
Church security is not a side ministry for a few; it is a shared responsibility of the body. Pastors, staff, and volunteers should all have a role in readiness, appropriate to their context. Ushers can be trained in de-escalation, children’s workers in reunification protocols, and members in basic first aid. When readiness is distributed, the whole church carries the weight together, and no one is left alone in a moment of crisis.
2. Build Community Partnerships
Churches that reach out to law enforcement, EMS, and medical providers before a crisis discover that partnerships open doors not just for faster response, but for witness. When officers and medics know the rhythms of a congregation, they can protect it more effectively. And over time, those professional connections often become relational ones, with conversations about readiness giving way to conversations about faith. Partnerships embody neighborly love while strengthening resilience.
3. Start with Children
If parents do not feel their children are safe, discipleship will always be disrupted. That’s why readiness begins with the youngest and most vulnerable. Background checks, check-in systems, and parent-child reunification drills may seem simple, but they communicate profound care. A church that stewards children well demonstrates Christlike love and earns trust in the wider community.
Moving Forward with Courage and Hope
Resilience is not about building walls around the church. It is about strengthening the body within it. A congregation that prepares well frees itself to serve faithfully, preach boldly, and disciple consistently, no matter the environment. By equipping leaders, building partnerships, and protecting children, churches live out the call of 2 Timothy 1:7 — not with fear, but with power, love, and self-control.
This is what it means to guard Gospel momentum: not preserving an institution, but protecting the witness of Christ’s body so that worship and discipleship continue without interruption.
- Resilient Discipleship: Why Readiness Matters for the Church Today Chris Atkins
In recent months, tragic headlines have reminded us again that churches are not immune to risk. From violence and fire to medical emergencies and storms, disruption often arrives without warning. Yet too often, churches either avoid the conversation out of fear or delegate responsibility to a small team of volunteers. The result is that when crisis comes, congregations are left unprepared, anxious, and distracted from their calling. - Responding to Child-on-Child Sexual Misconduct
While abuse of a child by an adult is terrible, it’s usually straightforward to evaluate what is happening. But what about sexual misconduct between children? Is it always abuse? No. Is it always illegal? No. And what should we do about it? The impact on children’s lives is not measured by whether the actions are abuse or a crime—so we must take it seriously.[1] As we evaluate how to respond, it may help to use as an example several common situations. We’ll take the perspective of behavior that is discovered by a church or ministry, but parents will also have to evaluate situations they uncover. - Confidential Church Communications and Mandated Reporters
In every state, the law requires that certain professionals immediately report to authorities suspicions that a child has suffered abuse. If you are a pastor, elder, deacon, or other leader in your church and are informed of a situation in which a child may have suffered abuse, what are your obligations to report what you have learned? If your congregation has given you authority and responsibility over a church and its members, the answer is likely not a simple one and will depend on the state in which you live, your role in the church, and how you learned about the situation.