PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SMALL FIREARM HANDLING … Presenting how to handle a small firearm during the Protective House of Worship training workshop is Angela Armstrong (left) and Forrest Sonewald (right) of the Buckeye Firearms Association who sponsored the event.
FIREARMS TRAINING … Angela Armstrong (right) of Buckeye Firearms Association provides small firearms training to Gary Beck (left) of Stryker during an active shooter drill in the Protecting House of Worship training workshop at First Church of Christ in West Unity on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
With church safety and security becoming a hot topic these days, the Buckeye Firearms Association conducted a daylong training seminar for area residents at the West Unity Church of Christ on Saturday, April 4.
Fourteen area residents took part in the “Protecting Houses of Worship” training, in which they were trained by a pair of licensed firearms instructors, Forrest Sonewald and Angela Armstrong of the Buckeye Firearms Association.
“This training is not only valuable for the people in the house of worship for their day-to-day lives, but we also give them trauma medical training,” said Armstrong.
“The more rural areas we do have longer response times. If you got trained knowledgeable people on how to respond to neutralize that threat as soon as possible, it’s very critical.”
The “Protecting Houses of Worship” training program started last year and has been successful so far. We’ve got interest from several different states around the country that are interested in bringing us there,” said Armstrong.
“Right now, we’re doing it in Ohio, and we do have another class in the area scheduled later this year.”
It also raised an important question: Does your church have a security team ready to go, and are they prepared to counter an active killing event?
The training was designed as an introduction to help identify security needs as well as organizational and team training standards. It focused on hands-on tactics in realistic church scenarios.
“It’s critical that anybody that’s in a safety or security position with a church or any house of worship get training and understand how to respond and neutralize a threat,” said Armstrong.
“You think it’s just common sense to call 911 and understand what information needs to be transferred to 911.
“That’s after you secure the scene whether it’s the firearm or getting people out of the area and start providing medical care.”
Armstrong stressed the first part of the training gave participants an idea of the history of active killing events in houses of worship.
“We’re trying to get people to understand because there is an issue, and it can actually happen anywhere,” said Armstrong.
“One thing which is eye-opening is what we’re doing here today with the different scenario training and get to see how people respond under stress.
“People learn whether they are a responder or whether they are role players. It’s very valuable training and we price it very reasonable. We’re hoping to get more people in this training.”
Sonewald, who is also a firearms defensive tactics instructor with the Perry Village Police Department in northeast Ohio and is certified with the Buckeye Firearms Association, gave a presentation on medical training, tactics and active killer response scenarios.
He presented a list of hostilities against churches in 2024, which included 55 involving arson, 28 gun-related incidents, 14 bomb threats, 284 vandalism incidents and 47 other incidents.
“Obviously, you have a little better idea on what is going on with the people shooting and being shot,” said Sonewald.
“Watch what the congregation does during the shooting, some people get down and some people jump up. The responders then would see when the other people come in.”
Armstrong and Sonewald, along with Archbold Police Department part-time officer Jeff Lehman, who had joined the Buckeye Firearms Association last September, conducted active shooter scenario training exercises throughout the church building.
“Unfortunately, we’re in a society where things are getting worse and tend to be ramping up,” said Lehman. This is something that is just like CPR, a defibrillator or firefighting. You should be training and pray that you never have to use it.”
“Unfortunately, we never know who, where, when or by whom the next attack is going to come.”
He stressed the importance of training as part of the identification of potential threats. “It’s going to address those potential threats when needed should they have to use violence or extreme violence against the threats,” said Lehman.
“They’re going to be prepared and proficient. We’re encouraging today to continue with quality training and to carry this out farther through.”
Among the participants was Greg Brillhart, a law enforcement veteran who took part in the active shooter training drills.
“Unfortunately, we live in an environment where churches are targeted, and it’s a matter of being prepared and not being paranoid,” said Brillhart.
“Our ministry is to reach out to people and at the same time, I think we must be cognizant of the fact that we’re in a different world than we were 20 years ago.
“I never would have thought we would see the day I think we were to have this kind of training. It moves churches to be further prepared and people know what to do.”
