Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 13 January 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.

Nearly 2,000 Christians killed, 3,000 abducted or assaulted since 2023, report says

A U.S.-based nonprofit watchdog tracking global religious persecution reported that between November 1, 2023, and October 31, 2025, nearly 2,000 Christians worldwide were killed while about 3,000 were abducted or assaulted in incidents linked to faith-based violence. These findings are part of the 2026 Global Christian Relief Red List, which draws on data from the International Institute for Religious Freedom’s Violent Incidents Database. The report identifies Africa, particularly Nigeria, as the epicenter of this violence, driven by weak state protection, lack of accountability, and the presence of Islamic State-affiliated groups. Nigeria recorded the highest number of killings, with at least 590 documented deaths, and investigators reported coordinated attacks against Christian communities. Other countries with high fatalities include the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia, while non-lethal persecution such as arrests and surveillance was notable in places like China. The report also highlights Mexico as leading in abductions and assaults against Christians, often tied to criminal groups rather than ideological motives. Additionally, the analysis noted a shift in U.S. political attention to global religious persecution.

Analyst Comments: Attacks on Christians in Africa often involve extremist groups targeting churches, pastors, and Christian communities amid weak governance and limited accountability. Other countries show different patterns: China is characterized by non-lethal persecution through surveillance, arrests, and restrictions on worship, while Mexico’s elevated abduction figures are largely tied to criminal organizations targeting faith leaders engaged in community influence. The data likely underrepresents the true scale of violence due to underreporting, access limitations, and verification challenges. For organizations planning faith-based mission trips abroad, these trends underscore the need for heightened regional risk awareness, careful destination planning, and strong coordination with local partners, particularly in African conflict zones and areas with active criminal or extremist networks who target Christians.

‘It was just gone’: Church left with no AC after unit stolen

In Blounts Creek, North Carolina, the St. Johns Free Will Baptist Church was left without heating or air conditioning after an A/C condenser unit was stolen from the property, according to local authorities. The missing unit was discovered Saturday evening by a church groundskeeper, prompting a report to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, which is now investigating the incident. Church leaders expressed disbelief that someone would take equipment from a place of worship, emphasizing the importance of respect for religious spaces. Despite the lack of climate control, the congregation still held Sunday services, relying on handheld fans to cope with the warmer indoor temperatures.

Analyst Comments: This incident appears consistent with a crime-of-opportunity theft, rather than ideologically motivated targeting, and aligns with broader trends in copper and metal theft affecting communities. Externally mounted infrastructure at HOWs, such as HVAC units, are often vulnerable to theft due to predictable schedules and limited overnight security. While incidents like this generally fall below the threshold of targeted faith-based hostility, they highlight an ongoing, low-level risk faced by houses of worship. Like any other building in the community, houses of worship can be vulnerable to crimes of opportunity, such as theft driven by the resale value of materials rather than ideological or faith-based motives.

Facility managers, other personnel, and volunteers should stay aware that items such as air-conditioning units, wiring, and piping are frequently stolen for the copper inside, particularly during periods of economic pressure or fluctuating scrap prices. From a preparedness standpoint, this underscores the value of basic deterrence measures such as lighting, surveillance signage, cages or locking mechanisms for HVAC units, and coordination with local law enforcement while also framing these incidents as part of a broader pattern of opportunistic property crime rather than isolated anomalies.

Weekly Security Sprint EP 141. Current event preparedness, insider threats and concerning behaviors, 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 covered the following:

• TribalHub Cybersecurity Summit! 17-20 Feb, Jacksonville, Florida
• Crypto ISAC & Crypto Crime Reaches Record High in 2025 as Nation-State Sanctions Evasion Moves On-Chain at Scale(and so many breach and incident reports)
• MFA follow up and the alleged Instagram breach: Instagram user data leak: scraped records from 2022 resurface

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