ROCHESTER N.Y. — One could envision that among a wide range of locations, a place of worship would be a safe haven far from violence. Unfortunately, churches are not the sanctuaries they once were, which prompted an “Active Shooter and Violence in the Church” seminar Saturday morning at the Glory Worship Center.

Local churches and the City of Rochester aim to elaborate on what to do when facing a life-threatening situation.

“It can happen in a place of worship,” says Pastor of Glory Worship Center William Franchuk. “We see mass shootings across the United States—where it’s at a college or school such as the Columbine shooting and different things of that nature, and a lot of times we get this false sense of security that because we are in the house of worship that it’s not going to happen here in the house of God, well that’s not the case.”

According to Rapid Mass Murder research, churches are the third most commonly targeted location by active killers.

Deputy Mayor of Rochester Dr. Cedric Alexander says the goal of the seminar is not to target anyone, but to train and to teach the congregation as to how to best identify the signs.

Some members of the church are recovering drug addicts and even ex-gang members, says Pastor Franchuk, who adds that you will never truly know who walks through those doors.

“We don’t know their complete background, you may have someone that may have lost two people in a shooting in some of the gangs and that could overflow into the church,” said Franchuk.

With over 25 churches invited to attend, only eight participated in the seminar.