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.

Emerging Threat Indicators Affecting Public Gatherings

Christian Warrior’s intelligence assessment evaluating risk trends for houses of worship (HOWs) sets the current threat level at Orange/High Risk of Attack.

• Disrupted New Year’s Eve bombing plot (California): Authorities stopped a planned attack aimed at crowded public spaces during holiday celebrations.
• Intelligence concerns tied to Afghan evacuees: A national intelligence statement identified approximately 2,000 individuals evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021 as having suspected terrorist ties.
• Religiously motivated attack (Australia): A violent, religion-focused incident underscored the global nature of ideologically driven violence.
• Overall implication: Together, these incidents reinforce ongoing concerns about ideologically motivated threats targeting religious communities and public gatherings.

 The assessment then cites corroborating U.S. incidents, such as shootings and an observed reconnaissance activity at a Southern California church, which align with emerging threat patterns.

The report judges that the most likely threats to churches and similar gatherings are small-scale lone actors or small cell attacks using firearms, edged weapons, vehicles, or improvised devices, while large, coordinated operations remain less likely but not impossible. It concludes by advising churches to interpret the information with measured awareness, staying open and welcoming while maintaining readiness and vigilant observation and emphasizes biblical discernment and calm preparedness rather than fear.

Analyst Comments: The assessment reflects a familiar and increasingly persistent risk environment for public and faith-based gatherings, where threats are more likely to come from lone actors or small groups rather than complex, coordinated plots. The indicators highlighted recent disrupted attacks, violent incidents tied to ideological or religious motivations, and reports of pre-incident surveillance—align with patterns seen across multiple years and sectors. Importantly, these threats are often opportunistic, targeting open, predictable, and lightly secured venues, particularly during high-attendance periods and holidays. While the overall tone underscores heightened awareness, the practical takeaway is not alarmism but preparedness: encouraging situational awareness, basic access control, observation of suspicious behavior, and clear response planning. Maintaining a balance between openness and readiness remains critical, as vigilance and early recognition of concerning indicators continue to be the most effective tools for prevention and mitigation.

Nonprofit Security Grants in 2026: A Practical Guide to Federal and State Funding

The Omnilert guide provides a comprehensive overview of the security funding landscape available to nonprofit organizations for 2026, emphasizing how federal, state, and local grant programs can support security improvements. At the federal level, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) administered by FEMA remains the primary funding source, offering hundreds of millions annually for physical security enhancements, planning, training, and certain cybersecurity measures. Eligible nonprofits, including houses of worship, schools, advocacy groups, and other 501(c)(3) organizations at risk, can receive substantial awards per site by documenting vulnerability and need. The guide also highlights growing state and local security grant opportunities that can complement federal funds, often with similar allowable uses, and stresses the importance of understanding eligibility criteria, application requirements, and timelines. It further outlines practical steps for preparing competitive applications, such as conducting a detailed security needs assessment, registering in SAM.gov, assembling required documents, and developing clear narratives tied to identified risks. Additionally, the guide explains typical allowable versus prohibited uses of funds and notes post-award compliance, procurement rules, and reporting obligations, while advising nonprofits to plan strategically across multiple funding sources.

Analyst Comments: The guide underscores how security grants have become a critical risk-mitigation tool for nonprofits that lack dedicated security budgets but face increasingly complex threat environments. Programs like the Nonprofit Security Grant Program are best understood not as one-time fixes, but as opportunities to build layered, sustainable security by addressing clearly documented vulnerabilities through assessments, training, and targeted physical improvements.

A recurring challenge for organizations is not eligibility, but preparedness. Those that conduct advance risk assessments, maintain accurate documentation, those with grant writing skills personnel, and align requested resources directly to identified threats are consistently better positioned to secure funding. The guide also reinforces the importance of compliance and planning beyond the award itself, as procurement rules, reporting, and maintenance obligations can strain smaller organizations if not anticipated. Overall, the value of these grants lies as much in encouraging structured security planning and accountability as in the financial support they provide.