SEGUIN, Texas – The Sunday service at the Life Changing Church in Seguin had an unusual message.
"I'm not asking you to live in fear, I'm asking you to live prepared," said Aristides Jimenez, deputy chief with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. "We've been teaching schools, churches (and) organizations about how to protect themselves in case of a violent event"
Sutherland Church Shooting Victims
These proactive lessons come a week after a gunman opened fire at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, killing 26 people.
"There's no profile. The majority of the active shooters tend to be males. That's the only profile I can give you," Jimenez said.
First Baptist Church is practically the same size as the Life Changing Church. Members of the congregation are hoping to be able to prevent horrific events, or stop them in their tracks if they do happen.
"If that can happen in Sutherland Springs, in a sacred ground, then it can happen any place," Pastor Brahm French said. "We need to do our part to make sure that our children and our grandchildren are safe."
Church members used the training as a way to combine their own tactics, with newly acquired life-saving skills.
"Anywhere I sit, I sit facing the door," said church member Austin Coleman.
Complete coverage of the Sutherland Springs tragedy
"Noticing all the exits. Noticing where we can protect ourselves, or where we can protect others," congregation member Jaidyn Larson said. "I know that I'm more aware of my surroundings now that I've had this training. I need to have a plan."
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office conducts free emergency response training several times a week.
