FAYETTEVILLE, AR (KNWA) – One historically black church in Fayetteville is on guard and for the first time in its history bringing in a patrol police officer Sunday morning. 

After being targeted by vandals in the past and in light of recent attacks on black churches, St. James Missionary Baptist Church says they refuse to be a victim again. 

“We just want them to have the freedom to worship without worry,” explains Pastor Curtiss Smith.

It was a typical Sunday service at St. James. But there’s something or someone new, that has not always been there before.

“Church shouldn’t have to be a place where you have to come over and look over your back,” says Greg Crosby, church member. “This is the one place you should have to come feel safe and you shouldn’t have to worry about being attacked.” 

Following the recent burnings and shootings at historically black churches across the country, the St. James pastor has decided to bring in a police officer to patrol.

“That’s certainly not the way God intended and that’s certainly the way this country would want it to be,” he adds.

Pastor Smith says St. James has been burned and vandalized before. In light of recent events, Smith says it’s a potential danger they can no longer ignore. Though he’s not revealing when, the church is staffing an officer throughout the week at different times.

“We’ve got to listen to our people,” says Smith. “Those are the people that God has assigned to us, so we need to make sure that they feel as comfortable as they possibly can.”

While officers are watching doors, church members and leaders are watching for anything that just looks suspicious.

According to Smith, the church will “have people that are strategically placed throughout the facility. Those people have been trained to monitor that and work through it.”

While the extra security shouldn’t be necessary, members of the congregation say they feel safer than ever before.

“When he did that, it made us feel good,” Crosby says. “It shows that he cares about his whole congregation. Not just himself.”

Pastor Smith says the process has brought them together as a church community. 

“They’re concerned about us just as much as we are, and I’m grateful for that,” he says.

St. James is celebrating 150 years next month. Pastor Smith says they are not sure how long the security officer will be around.