Colorado Springs Church Executed their Emergency Plan, Sparing Many

Phoenix, AZ – Christian Emergency Network (CEN) applauds one of its lead church ministry partners for having and executing an emergency plan in yesterday’s shooting incident. New Life Church of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was the site of yesterday’s shooting whereby the congregation was spared more death and injury by the actions of a well-prepared plain clothes security guard.

Pastor Brady Boyd of New Life Church shared on Fox News that they had an emergency plan that included a lock down, uniformed and undercover security personnel, volunteers at-the-ready, and more. They’re up and running with a 24-hour care-counseling hotline available to the congregation and anyone affected by the tragic events. He also offered thanks for the outpouring of support.

Mary Marr , CEN’s founder and chairman, states, “New Life Church was one of the first churches that took the call to create plans for emergencies seriously back at the start of CEN after the fall of the Twin Towers. They saw the sense of being prepared with plans and training, and continue to view crises as potential opportunities to serve up the gospel message amidst these types of event(s).”

CEN, now in its sixth year of ministry, offers churches online emergency training sessions via Christian Communication Network’s satellite feeds, and also provides a Ready Church sermon series that presents “preparedness” from a “Before-It-Happens,” “While It Happens” and “After It Happens” perspective. Originally prepared for CEN, this series has now been downloaded and utilized time and time again.

Marr says, “We encourage Christians to be prepared personally, and to help get their church prepared so that in times of crisis, big or small, Christians will be alive and equipped to share the Truth of Jesus Christ. New Life Church finds itself in a position to articulate the biblical worldview that this world is affected by evil but that one day Jesus will rule and reign in peace with believers. Christians must know the Truth of the Bible in order to answer the spiritual questions surrounding any crisis event. There is a heaven and a hell. World events are culminating for the prophesied final battle. The world today needs to know what we know. What a privilege to carry the gospel into situations like this! Let’s study our Bible and know the Truths that this world so desperately needs to know.”

The anticipated question now by many churches and ministries is, “Are we next?” Already the commentaries are coming, like from ASSIST News. Churches can now take steps toward being a Ready Church/Ministry.

CEN asks churches to join in prayer with Christian brothers and sisters in the Denver/Colorado Springs areas in the next several weeks. Pray for a bold outpouring of God’s love and Truth.

CEN is also asking for churches to notify them of preparation efforts and stories of being “Light” in the midst of any local crisis. “God often uses crises events in lives to open hearts to the gospel,” claims Mary Marr .