Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 04 August 2023

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.

Texas missionaries escape Niger after coup as State Departments issues Level 4 Travel Advisory

A group of student missionaries from the Harmony Hill Baptist Church in Lufkin, Texas, were safely on their way back to the U.S. Thursday after their return from a mission trip in Niger was delayed by the ousting of the country’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum by soldiers last week.

Analyst Comment:

Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) should be aware of geopolitical risks while planning for oversees work. Those operating abroad should also make contingency plans have plans if situations deteriorate.

Wednesday’s DAP had an article from the Christian Post about the kidnapping of a New Hampshire nurse working for El Roi Haiti, a Christian education ministry in Haiti. The nurse’s daughter was also kidnapped.

Yesterday, the DAP posted that the U. S. Department of State advised Americans not to travel to Niger. Travel advisories for all countries can be found at: Travel Advisories (state.gov).

Information about planning safer foreign travel and what to do in an emergency abroad can be found at International Travel (state.gov).

Around the world, geopolitical events can have important effects on individuals and organizations alike. For organizations, it is important to recognize their risks and that real security incidents can occur as a result of them.

Ogdensburg church’s famed Horwood stained glass vandalized

NNY360 reports that an Upstate New York church’s historic stained-glass windows were vandalized. Horwood stained glass is renowned in Canada and the U.S.

A security video captured an adult and juvenile throwing rocks and a baseball at the window. The windows were protected by glass inside and out, which probably reduced the damage. 

Analyst Comment:

NBC 4 reported on the Historic St. John’s Church arson fire during the 2020 violent protests near the White house. A fire was set in the basement and graffiti spray painted on the exterior walls. Protective glass over a stained-glass window was broken, but the historic stained glass was not damaged.

Physically securing a FBO’s facilities and utilizing security cameras can reduce vulnerability. Vandals and more serious threat actors are often deterred when they detect outward security measures and as a result will likely seek out a softer target to attack.

The suspects captured on the NY church’s security video may lead to an arrest, which could deter future vandalism.