Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 5 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.

Anti-immigration enforcement protesters disrupt Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota

Protesters who oppose U.S. immigration enforcement continued to gather outside Cities Church in St. Paul for a second Sunday following a highly disruptive incident on Jan. 18, when a group entered the church sanctuary during a worship service and chanted before leaving. The demonstrators have been engaging with parishioners as they enter and exit services, and some interactions have included heated exchanges and insults aimed at individual worshippers. The presence of protesters outside the church has followed federal and local authorities’ involvement after the earlier disruption, which drew a civil-rights investigation and some arrests relating to the Jan. 18 incident. Churchgoers have reported the continued external protests on consecutive Sundays while services continue inside.

Analyst Comments: The takeaway for members is this is not a one-off news event. The demonstrations outside Cities Church have continued well beyond the initial incident, showing how protests tied to public policy can persist for houses of worship. Faith-based organizations could see similar activity in this politically polarized environment, even without direct involvement in the original issue.

Members should consider treating this as a reminder to proactively assess their own exposure and preparedness. Repeated protest activity increases the risk of escalation, strains relationships with neighbors, and can draw sustained law-enforcement attention. Faith-based organizations can reduce these risks by setting clear boundaries for demonstrations, planning safe entry and exit routes, coordinating with local authorities, and establishing trained volunteer safety teams. Early communication and visible preparedness help protect congregants, preserve worship practices, and prevent confrontation before it occurs.

FBI Kansas City warns of romance scams ahead of Valentine’s Day

As Valentine’s Day nears, the FBI’s Kansas City field office issued a public warning about the risk of romance scams, where fraudsters create fake online identities to feign affection and gain victims’ trust to steal money. These criminals often rush relationships by sending gifts, declaring love, and even proposing marriage. However, they never follow through on in-person meetings. Instead, once trust is established, they begin asking for funds. The FBI alert outlines common tactics, including “money mule” schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, and fake verification links that harvest personal data. It also emphasizes that anyone who communicates online and has money can be targeted and provides a list of red flags, such as requests for money or personal information.

The warning noted significant financial impacts from scams in 2024, with more than 17,900 victims reporting losses exceeding $672 million, and encouraged those who suspect they are targeted to immediately cease contact and report incidents to local law enforcement or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Analyst Comments: The FBI’s Valentine’s Day warning is a reminder that romance scams are not isolated or seasonal incidents. They are ongoing, organized fraud campaigns that routinely target congregants, especially during emotionally significant times of year.

Leaders should consider viewing this as a call to actively protect their congregations. Financial losses from romance scams can destabilize individuals, families, and even ministries when members quietly drain savings or seek emergency assistance after the fact. Faith-based organizations can reduce harm by normalizing scam awareness from the pulpit, in newsletters, or during small-group meetings, and by reinforcing that requests involving money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, secrecy, or rapid emotional escalation are warning signs even when they come from someone claiming a personal relationship.

Practical steps include encouraging congregants to pause before sending funds, seek a trusted second opinion from a community leader, limit personal information shared online, and report suspected scams without fear of embarrassment or judgment. Framing these efforts as an extension of faith leadership and community resilience rather than fear or suspicion helps safeguard members while preserving trust and connection within the congregation.