NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Churches vandalized, broken into, and robbed; FBI data shows incidents inside places of worship have increased dramatically in recent years.
This month, Gov. Bill Lee announced he wants to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in security grants for churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques.
“A handful of people, this church is starting to grow,” Rodney Musgraves said.
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For Musgraves, talking about the Lakeshore Christian Church’s Smyrna Campus comes easily.
“They are really uplifting here, really keep you engaged. It’s an awesome church; I feel secure,” he said.
Although he feels secure, Musgraves also knows the potential danger that could walk through the church’s doors. This is why he joined the church “safety team,” which works as the first line of defense inside.
“It’s a place of safety and security, and we don’t have that,” Musgraves said. “It’s not church no more.”
Musgraves said he felt inspired to join the safety team, wanting to make a difference, but also thinking back to the Antioch church shooting that sent shockwaves through Nashville.