Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 12 February 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.

Oklahoma church’s bank account hacked

In Wagoner, Oklahoma, leaders at Immanuel Southern Baptist Church discovered that their bank account had been cleared out in a cyberattack, wiping out the funds the congregation had saved. Church officials said the theft was the result of a hack that gave criminals access to their financial accounts. Local law enforcement and the bank were notified as part of the response. The incident has left the church reeling as it works to assess the full impact and secure its financial systems against future attacks.

Analyst Comments: This incident highlights a persistent vulnerability for faith-based and other small nonprofit organizations: financial systems are often managed by a limited number of trusted individuals, with minimal segregation of duties, limited cybersecurity controls, and infrequent monitoring. Churches may assume that their mission-driven profile makes them unlikely targets, but attackers routinely seek out organizations perceived as having weaker safeguards and fewer dedicated IT resources. The broader implication is not simply the financial loss, but the operational disruption and reputational strain that can follow. Incidents like this underscore the importance of layered controls, such as multi-factor authentication on banking platforms, dual authorization for transfers, routine account reconciliation, and staff or volunteer training on phishing and credential theft to reduce both the likelihood and impact of similar compromises.

‘Will they stop at burning an empty church?’: Anti-Christian attacks rise in Europe

A recent EWTN News report highlights a rise in anti-Christian violence and attacks across Europe, underscored by incidents such as the burning of an empty church in Nantes that drew international attention. The article situates this event within a broader pattern of hate crimes ranging from arson and vandalism to physical assaults that watchdog groups like the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) have documented continent-wide, with particularly high numbers in countries such as France, Germany, the U.K., Spain and Austria. The report notes that, while overall hate crime figures against Christians have fluctuated, the nature and severity of attacks, especially those involving property destruction and threats to clergy and worshippers, have intensified. These developments have alarmed church leaders and civil society advocates, who see them as indicators of growing intolerance against Christian communities in parts of Europe. 

Analyst Comments: This reporting reflects a broader and increasingly visible pattern of hostility targeting religious institutions in Europe, particularly through vandalism, arson, and harassment directed at churches and clergy. While many incidents involve property damage rather than mass-casualty violence, the cumulative effect can erode community confidence and create a perception of escalating threat.

It is also important to contextualize these events: some attacks are ideologically motivated hate crimes, while others stem from vandalism, mental health issues, or opportunistic criminal behavior. Distinguishing motive is critical for accurate risk assessment and response.

For faith-based organizations, the trend reinforces the need for practical resilience measures basic physical security upgrades, local law enforcement engagement, incident reporting, and community awareness while avoiding rhetoric that could unintentionally amplify polarization. Monitoring data sources carefully and grounding assessments in verified reporting remains essential to understanding both the scale and the trajectory of the threat environment.