Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 22 July 2026

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Houses of worship strengthen security amid elevated threats

A Maryland Matters article highlights how congregations are using state and local grants to fund security officers, cameras, access control systems, and proactive barriers that would otherwise be difficult to afford. Congregation Kneseth Israel in Annapolis, for example, spends about $90,000 annually on security, with board member Stephen Sutton noting, “We would not have that valuable service without having obtained the grants. It really relieves the financial burden.” The article also notes that religiously motivated incidents accounted for 32.6% of Maryland’s reported hate crimes in 2024, while demand for security grants exceeded available funding, demonstrating the continued need for protective measures.

Analyst Comments: Physical security has become an operational responsibility for many faith-based organizations; therefore security improvement like cameras, controlled entry points, and protective barriers are increasingly viewed as long-term investments that support daily operations as well as worship services.

Faith-based organizations can strengthen their preparedness by:

• Reviewing whether current physical security measures align with today’s threat environment and identifying gaps before applying for grant funding.
• Researching available federal, state, and local nonprofit security grants, recognizing that funding opportunities are often competitive and may require significant planning and documentation to win them.
• Developing a long-term budget for maintaining security equipment after installation, including cameras, access control systems, lighting, and protective barriers.
• Building and sustaining relationships with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies before an incident occurs, particularly for large services, holidays, or special events.
• Conducting periodic security assessments and exercising emergency response plans with staff, volunteers, and security personnel to ensure security investments are supported by effective procedures.
• Maintaining documentation of security improvements, risk assessments, and incident reporting processes, which can strengthen future grant applications and support continuous security planning.

Pastor Found Guilty by Jury of Wire Fraud, Access Device Fraud, and Obstruction of a Federal Investigation

A federal jury convicted a former Louisiana church employee on 25 counts of wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation after prosecutors proved he misused church funds over several years. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Dale Sanders transferred money from one church’s bank accounts into accounts he controlled and used church debit cards to pay for personal expenses, including gambling, dining, and living costs. The unauthorized transactions totaled more than $34,000. Prosecutors also proved Sander attempted to obstruct the investigation by providing a falsified record in response to a federal grand jury subpoena.

Analyst Comments: This case shows that financial threats to faith-based organizations can come from trusted insiders with access to accounts and financial systems. Strong financial oversight not only helps prevent fraud but can also make suspicious activity easier to detect before losses become significant.

Faith-based organizations can:

• Separate financial duties so no single individual controls payments, bank transfers, and account reconciliation.
• Regularly review bank statements, debit card activity, and electronic transfers for unauthorized transactions.
• Require dual approval for significant expenditures or transfers.
• Conduct periodic internal or external financial audits.
• Maintain organized financial records and preserve documentation to support any future investigation.

Weekly Security Sprint EP 167. Cyber Trends, Kidnapping Risks, and More.

The Gate 15 Security Sprint is a weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.

In this week’s Weekly Security Sprint Dave and Andy discuss the following topics, ransomware and cyber threats, kidnappings, and Iranian hackers.

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found at Podcasts (gate15.global).