The recent disturbance at Singapore Life Church on Prinsep Street where several individuals were assaulted serves as a sobering reminder that our places of worship are not immune to the brokenness of the world. While we thank God that the injuries sustained were not life-threatening and that an arrest was made, this incident prompts a vital conversation for every local congregation: How do we remain welcoming while ensuring the safety of the flock?

Nehemiah 4:7-9 (NIV)
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

When faced with threats while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the people of God did not choose between faith and security. They chose both. This balance of prayer and practical action was found in the book of Nehemiah.

The beauty of Nehemiah 4:9 is that it does not present “praying” and “posting a guard” as opposites. It presents them as a single, unified response to a threat.

“…we prayed to our God…” This acknowledges that ultimate protection comes from the Lord. 

“…and posted a guard…” This is the exercise of wisdom. God gave Nehemiah the wisdom to see the danger and the resources to mitigate it. 

A guard was posted “day and night.” This implies that vigilance is not a one-time event or something we only do when we encounter a threat. This speaks of consistency. Safety SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are only effective if they are active every Sunday, and not just the week after an incident happens. True vigilance is a culture, not a reaction.

Sometimes, we can fall into the trap of thinking that the idea of taking security measures shows a lack of faith. Nehemiah 4:9 shatters that myth. Nehemiah posted a guard, not because he did not trust God. He posted a guard because he trusts that God has given him the wisdom and the duty to protect the vulnerable.

The “guard” in our modern era could be ushers, security protocols, CCTVs, de-escalation training and many more mitigation measures. May God grant creative ideas for each church to stay vigilant in their own way in order to prevent a single person’s distress from turning into a community’s trauma.