Pastor Holds Burglar at Gunpoint, Armed Confrontation at Idaho Church
In this edition:
CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS
Parishioners Thwart Potential Mass Shooting in Abbeville, Louisiana
Threatening Packages Disrupt Mother's Day Services at Cocoa Churches
Armed Confrontation Leads to Arrest at Swan Lake Church
Armed Man Barricades Himself in Kensington Church Steeple
SEXUAL ASSAULT
Calvary Chapel Pastor Arrested on Child Porn Charges
Colorado Woman Charged with Sexual Assault While Volunteering at Church
PROPERTY CRIME
Deacon Holds Burglary Suspect at Gunpoint in Beaumont, Texas
Hate Symbols and Messages Vandalize Philadelphia Church
Repeated Burglaries at Greater Refuge Temple in Jacksonville
MISC. STORIES
Tornado Damages Washington County Church During Service
Lower Burrell Man Arrested for Disrupting Church Services
INTERNATIONAL CRIME
Mob Assaults Catholic Students in Indonesia; Local Muslims Intervene
Surge in Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in France
CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS
Parishioners Thwart Potential Mass Shooting in Abbeville, Louisiana
In a brave act of community defense, parishioners at Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Abbeville, Louisiana, averted a potential mass shooting during a first communion ceremony for 60 second graders. The incident unfolded when a 16-year-old boy with a firearm attempted to enter the church through the back door but was swiftly confronted and subdued by churchgoers. The alarming situation, captured live during the ceremony's livestream, saw altar servers and clergy seeking cover while the priest led the congregation in prayer to maintain calm. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as police in tactical gear arrived promptly to secure the scene. The teenager was arrested and underwent a mental health evaluation. This close call occurred just a week after another violent incident in Pennsylvania, where a man tried to shoot a pastor during a service but was impeded when his gun jammed. The heroics of the Abbeville church members highlight the vigilance and courage often necessary in preventing tragedies.
You can see my debrief on this incident below.
Read the full story on CBS News
Threatening Packages Disrupt Mother's Day Services at Cocoa Churches
On Mother's Day, a distressing incident occurred at two churches in Cocoa, Florida, where threatening packages were discovered, prompting heightened security measures. The packages, which did not contain explosives but included various notes described as a manifesto expressing hatred towards "wokeism," taxation, and other grievances, were left at the Clear Lake Baptist Church and the Shield of Faith Ministries. The individual responsible, a 63-year-old man, identified in his notes as the "Donation Bomber," inadvertently left his name and address on one of the documents, leading to his arrest. He faces charges including a written threat to kill and disturbing the peace at a religious ceremony. Despite the scare, Clear Lake Baptist Church adapted by holding their Sunday service outdoors in a nearby open lot to ensure the congregation's safety, with attendees either sitting in their air-conditioned cars or on tailgates.
This church did a great job of pivoting after a traumatic event. You should have plans for any type of service disruption, whether it is a fire, bomb threat or anything at all. You can start by running it through your mind as to how you would handle it. Then bring it up at a church staff meeting and then put pen to paper and draft procedures so that you can hit the ground running when hitting a speed bump like this.
Watch the full report on YouTube
Armed Confrontation Leads to Arrest at Swan Lake Church
In Swan Lake, Idaho, a heated confrontation escalated when 35-year-old Waylan Duane Grantham allegedly brandished a gun during an argument at a local church. The incident occurred on the evening of March 19, and Grantham now faces serious charges including one felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor for disturbing the peace. According to police reports, the situation unfolded as Grantham approached a man and a woman at the church, eventually drawing a gun and pointing it at the man, who then fled the scene in his car. The response from local law enforcement was swift, with multiple agencies arriving to assist, although Grantham had left the scene by the time officers arrived. He was later arrested and is currently out on a $35,000 bond.
Read the original story. There are so many red flags. The suspect allegedly had been stalking the victim previously and then they had a confrontation at the church, even though the victim saw the suspect arrive at the church with a gun on his hip. I love Idaho because that is legal here. However, if you are having issues with someone, let’s say STALKING, DO NOT go and talk to the person. Lock yourself in the church and call the police. Common sense is not always common.
Read the full story on East Idaho News
Armed Man Barricades Himself in Kensington Church Steeple
A man barricaded himself in the steeple of a church in Kensington, Philadelphia, after allegedly pointing a rifle at police on May 13, 2024. The incident began around 8:15 p.m. on the 700 block of East Cornwall Street when officers responded to reports of a man standing on the church steeple, believed to be under the influence of drugs. Upon arrival, the man pointed a long gun at the officers, prompting the deployment of SWAT and Tactical Air units. The situation remains ongoing with no further details released.
Churches draw people that are high or mentally ill. People in trouble also run to churches as a place of sanctuary. Remember this as you walk up to your church and maintain your situational awareness at all times while on the property.
SEXUAL ASSAULT
Calvary Chapel Pastor Arrested on Child Porn Charges
The lead pastor of Calvary Chapel in The Woodlands, Texas, was recently arrested for possession of child porn. The former pastor, aged 63, is now facing accusations involving prohibited visual material. He has been removed from his role and is barred from representing the church in any capacity. The church responded promptly by suspending their website, only displaying a statement about the incident. Currently held in Montgomery County Jail on a $30,000 bond, the arrest has prompted a strong reaction from the church community as they navigate this challenging situation. The case continues to unfold as the legal process advances.
Taking down your website isn’t good. It would be acceptable to remove material related to the pastor, but you need to take this head on. Cooperate with police, suspend/fire the pastor and start an internal investigation looking for victims. Hire a professional to do a forensic sweep of his work computers and digital media and turn any offensive material in to the police. Write a press release condemning the actions and then explain what you are doing to internally in regards to your investigation. Do not stay silent or someone will shape the narrative for you and it will forever damage your church (and us as a community).
Read the full story on the Houston Chronicle
Colorado Woman Charged with Sexual Assault While Volunteering at Church
Angela Klickner, a 31-year-old woman from Clifton, Colorado, has been arrested on multiple charges of sexually assaulting children while volunteering at Landmark Baptist Church in Grand Junction between 2022 and 2023. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after church officials reported allegations of inappropriate contact. Klickner faces nearly a dozen counts of sexual assault on a child, among other charges, and is currently held in Mesa County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Women sexual predators are more common than one would think. Don’t let your guard down because the person is a woman. You’ll need strong background checks on ALL of your volunteers and employees as well as monitoring and strong policies. Make the children’s ministry part of your patrol rounds.
PROPERTY CRIME
Deacon Holds Burglary Suspect at Gunpoint in Beaumont, Texas
Leon Goodman, a 45-year-old man, was caught attempting to burglarize Impact Ministries in Beaumont, Texas, on May 14, 2024. Deacon Quentin Grant discovered Goodman stealing church equipment, including a speaker and a spotlight, and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Goodman, who has a history of convictions, was taken into custody by officers. The incident occurred at the church located in the 1100 block of Delaware Street.
Hate Symbols and Messages Vandalize Philadelphia Church
In a disheartening incident at St. John's Lutheran Church in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia, vandals spray-painted swastikas and homophobic messages on the church premises. This act of vandalism, which occurred last week, targeted not only the church's walkways but also an LGBTQ flag, which was ripped down and defaced. The local community quickly rallied in response, with volunteers removing the graffiti within hours using pressure washers. Pastor Daniel Eisenberg expressed his shaken feelings but also noted the uplifting community support that followed the vandalism.
I’ll just leave you with this:
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)
"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
Repeated Burglaries at Greater Refuge Temple in Jacksonville
Greater Refuge Temple in Jacksonville, Florida, has suffered multiple burglaries this year, with the latest incident occurring in the early hours of May 10. Thieves targeted the church's storage building, stealing thousands of dollars worth of new lawn maintenance equipment essential for the upkeep of church grounds. Surveillance video captured three men, exiting a dark blue Honda SUV with a Disney license plate, actively participating in the theft. The video ended abruptly after one of the suspects disabled the camera. Deacon Gentle Grover noted that this burglary was one of several recent attacks on the church's property, including prior thefts of golf carts and other smaller items. The recurring nature of these crimes has significantly impacted the church both financially and operationally, prompting increased security measures among church staff. Jacksonville police are seeking any information that could lead to identifying the perpetrators and halting this string of burglaries.
Read the full story on News4JAX
MISC. STORIES
Tornado Damages Washington County Church During Service
Go to 2:30 to watch the moment the lights went out at the church and the tornado struck.
A tornado struck Crossroads Ministries in Union Township, Washington County, causing significant damage to the church while approximately 100 parishioners were inside. The incident occurred between 6:05 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., as confirmed by the National Weather Service. Pastor Ken Barner and his wife, Rhonda, who was leading worship at the time, recounted the chaos, describing how debris flew across the auditorium and the sound resembled that of a train. The tornado notably ripped the roof off the connected office building and dislodged the church steeple, tossing it into the parking lot where it damaged several cars. Miraculously, no injuries were reported among the congregants. The community, including neighbors on nearby Gayle Drive, came together to assist in the cleanup efforts following the storm. Due to the damage, the church announced that upcoming services would be streamed online. This event highlights the resilience and unity of the community in the face of natural disasters.
Read the full story on Yahoo News
Lower Burrell Man Arrested for Disrupting Church Services
Joseph Gorencic, Jr., a man from Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, has been arrested for disrupting services at nearly a dozen churches by screaming at priests. One incident occurred at St. Sebastian in Ross Township during communion. His family informed police that Gorencic, who is schizophrenic, was not taking his medications. He faces various charges and will be arraigned on Wednesday.
INTERNATIONAL CRIME
Mob Assaults Catholic Students in Indonesia; Local Muslims Intervene
In a distressing event in Banten Province, Indonesia, a mob attacked 15 Catholic students engaged in a rosary prayer at a rented house in the Pamulang area of Babakan village. The attack, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. on a Sunday, resulted in minor injuries to two female students and a male Muslim student who tried to protect them. The local neighborhood head incited the violence by rallying area Muslims, angered by the prayer session outside a traditional church setting. Despite the hostile act by some, other local Muslims attempted to shield the students from further harm. The police have since arrested the neighborhood head and three others involved. This incident highlights the ongoing religious tensions in Indonesia, which ranks 42nd on Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List for countries where Christian persecution is most severe.
Read the full story on The Christian Post
Surge in Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in France
The Roman Catholic Church of Sainte-Thérèse in Poitiers, France, experienced severe vandalism on May 14, 2024, with a statue of Mary beheaded and church benches set on fire, necessitating specialized cleaning and temporarily closing the church. This incident follows a troubling report of nearly 1,000 anti-Christian hate crimes in France in 2023, with a majority targeting church properties. French authorities have increased security measures around Christian events in response to this surge in hate crimes, which includes vandalism, arson, and defacement of religious symbols.
