Protect this House

Protect This House by Kent Giles is a timely, faith-anchored guide for leaders who carry the sacred responsibility of safeguarding people in an increasingly unpredictable world. Written for pastors, boards, staff, and volunteers, this book answers a question no house of worship can afford to ignore: How do we protect life while preserving the mission, heart, and hospitality of our faith community?

Drawing on real-world case studies, lessons learned from churches and synagogues, and widely accepted guidance from DHS, CISA, and other public safety agencies, Protect This House bridges the gap between spiritual leadership and practical preparedness. Giles presents a clear, compassionate framework for recognizing threats early, building time to act, and responding wisely to emergencies ranging from medical crises and severe weather to domestic violence, protests, active shooters, and bomb threats. Throughout the book, security is never treated as fear-based or militarized, but as faithful stewardship-an extension of loving one's neighbor and protecting the vulnerable.

More than a theory book, Protect This House is a hands-on resource filled with actionable tools: assessment checklists, role cards, emergency response planning guidance, team-building strategies, and governance considerations that help leaders reduce risk and limit liability while empowering those who serve. With thoughtful integration of Scripture, body-life principles, and leadership responsibility, Giles shows how prayer and preparation work together-faithfully and decisively-in moments that matter most.

Clear, practical, and mission-driven, Protect This House equips faith-based organizations to remain places of worship, sanctuary, and hope-without being naïve about the realities of danger. It is an essential resource for any leader who believes that protecting life is not a distraction from ministry, but a vital part of it.

Kent Giles is also a licensed minister who has faithfully served in teaching and leadership positions in churches for the past 40 years. He currently serves as a leader on his church's Emergency Response Team. These experiences lend a real-world understanding of the complexities of proetcting the sheep while carrying out the mission of a faith based organziation.