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Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 16 January 2025

Faith-Based Security Headlines

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.

New documentary reveals antisemitic hostage siege captured on camera at Texas synagogue

FOX News reports on an upcoming documentary about the Colleyville synagogue hostage situation:

On a cold Saturday morning in January 2022, Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, was a quiet sanctuary in a small community. As Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker prepared to lead a livestreamed service, a man, later identified as (name omitted), arrived at the synagogue. His presence would change the course of the day forever.

A new documentary, “Colleyville,” directed by award-winning filmmaker Dani Menkin, reveals never-before-seen footage from the synagogue’s 13 security cameras, documenting the harrowing 11-hour hostage crisis in real-time. The film offers a chilling yet profoundly human look at the bravery of the hostages and the resilience of a community under threat.

Analyst Comments:

The brave actions by Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker possibly saved the lives of his congregation. When the documentary is released, reviewing the security camera video can serve as a useful example of how prior training and actions by victims can lead to a successful outcome of a crisis.

Lessons Learned After FL Church Employee Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $900K

Ministry Watch reports the following:

Finance and Operations Director Wendi Peña told MinistryWatch the church had several transparency practices when the fraud occurred. She noted that, as a large and well-funded parish with roughly 4,500 families, the small church staff handled (and continues to handle) a high volume of invoices for personnel and school expenses alongside managing a large construction project to improve the property.

In January 2024, while preparing reports and reviewing balances from the previous quarter, Peña noticed that operating balances seemed unusually low. Suspecting fraud was not even a thought in the beginning, she said…

Yet, as Peña and another team member dug deeper, they uncovered more discrepancies.

Related Articles:

Analyst Comments:

Embezzlement is a serious threat to Faith-Based Organizations (FBO).

The embezzler was the records and finance manager at the church for 26 years. FBOs should consider not letting long-time employment or volunteering lead to complacency.

The above FBO used a three-person system which eventually caught the embezzler. In addition to a three-person system, the following resources can be used to prevent embezzlement.

On 31 July 2024, FB-ISAO members received a Weekly Advisory which explored EMBEZZLEMENT STRIKES FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. The Weekly Advisory provided considerations for reducing the risk of embezzlement.

FB-ISAO’s 11 June 2024 Daily Awareness Post (DAP) highlighted a massive parish theft and other thefts from Faith-Based Organizations. The DAP also provided recommendations from a retired IRS investigator.

The 11 March 2024 Daily Awareness Post provided Smart Church Management’s 10 Practices That Safeguard Your Church Against Embezzlement – Smart Church Management. The DAP also provided the Church Mutual’s Preventing Fraud And Embezzlement pdf.

More Security-focused Content

Attacks on Houses of Worship in 2023
Read the March 2024 Threat Level Statement Update
Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

The FB-ISAO’s sponsor Gate 15 publishes a free daily newsletter called the SUN. Curated from their open source intelligence collection process, the SUN informs leaders and analysts with the critical news of the day and provides a holistic look at the current global, all-hazards threat environment. Ahead of the daily news cycle, the SUN allows current situational awareness into the topics that will impact your organization. To sign-up for the SUN, send an email to [email protected]

Learn More About Gate 15’s Enhanced Intel Solutions

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