Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 14 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.

Arapaho Tribe Tells Christian Church to Leave Reservation; Church Says No

A sermon delivered on July 5^th by Foundations for Nations Pastor Sarah Lucas on the Wind River Reservation has led to an ongoing dispute between the church and the Northern Arapaho Tribe. During the sermon, Lucas described traditional Sundance practices as idol worship, stating that “the pipe cannot hear your prayers” and encouraging attendees to embrace Christianity instead. The sermon quickly spread online, prompting several hundred community members to participate in peaceful protests calling for the church to leave the reservation.

Tribal leaders later directed the church to leave the reservation, but the church declined, stating that it intends to remain and continue its ministry while challenging any removal efforts through the federal courts. The church also reported receiving death threats, temporarily closing its food shelf in response, and said the FBI and local law enforcement have been involved. Tribal members and Native leaders across the country said the sermon reopened historical wounds tied to forced assimilation, boarding schools, and the suppression of Indigenous religious practices, arguing that it damaged trust between faith communities and tribal nations.

Analyst Comments: Faith-based organizations serving culturally diverse communities or conducting outreach in indigenous, immigrant, or minority communities may view this incident as a reminder that religious messaging can carry broader historical and cultural implications. While organizations have the right to express their beliefs, public statements that are perceived as attacking another faith or culture can rapidly generate community backlash, creating organizational risks such as reputational damage, protests, legal disputes, and other security concerns.

Organizations can strengthen preparedness by:

• Understanding the cultural and historical context of the communities they serve before conducting outreach or public events.
• Developing communication plans for responding to controversy, misinformation, or viral social media attention.
• Coordinating with local community leaders to build trust and maintain open dialogue before conflicts arise.
• Reviewing security plans for protests or demonstrations, including staff safety, access control, and continuity of operations.
• Training staff and volunteers on respectful engagement across cultures while remaining consistent with the organization’s mission and beliefs.
• Monitoring online conversations for emerging threats or calls for demonstrations that could affect facilities, personnel, or community events.
• Establishing relationships with local law enforcement and emergency management partners before an incident occurs to support coordinated response if tensions escalate.

Weekly Security Sprint EP 166. Wearable Devices, Europol Report, Weather, 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 various security issues, including Europol’s latest analysis of evolving threats, smart glasses, current affairs, and the weather.

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

ICYMI: FB-ISAO’s 2025 Threat Data Report | Vandalism, Violence, Arson, Active Shooters, Cyber Attacks, and More: Understanding Today’s Threats to Houses of Worship Across All Faith Communities

Houses of worship and faith‑based organizations are facing increasing levels of hostility, from vandalism and arson to active‑shooter events, bomb threats, hate‑motivated violence, and cyber-attacks on their systems and data. Join the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization for a focused review of the much-anticipated cumulative threat data on attacks and incidents impacting churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other houses of worship during 2025.

During this session, Ed Heyman and Ross Moore will:

• Walk through key statistics from recent incidents impacting houses of worship and faith‑based organizations, including vandalism, arson, threats, and violence.
• Highlight notable hate‑motivated and extremist attacks against religious institutions and how those trends are evolving across time and different faith traditions.
• Review recent cyber incidents affecting faith‑based organizations – such as ransomware campaigns and online harassment – and discuss common entry points and vulnerabilities.
• Discuss practical implications for security planning, training, and partnership with law enforcement, emergency management, and community organizations.
• Point to free tools, templates, and grant programs that can help congregations strengthen their security posture and preparedness without overwhelming budgets or staff.

This presentation is designed for clergy, executive leaders, safety, security, and intelligence team members, board members, and anyone responsible for protecting the people, facilities, and ministries of a faith‑based organization. No advanced technical background is required; the focus is on clear, plain‑language insight into current threats and realistic steps faith communities can take to reduce risk.

The webinar will take place on 22 July 2026 at 12:00 PM ET, when we’ll unpack what the data is telling us and what leaders should be watching now. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of current trends, risk drivers, and practical steps to strengthen security, preparedness, and resilience in their own communities.

Register here  : This is a members-only event.