Man Shot Outside Church, Pastor Steals from Congregation
I’m sorry for sending this out a day late. I’ve been in rural Tennessee visiting family with no access to the internet and one bar on my cell phone (it was amazing). I pray that you have an uneventful service at church today and that you are able to keep violence away from your church.
CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS
Man Shot Outside Cleveland Church
A man was shot outside St. Malachi Parish on Cleveland’s West Side around noon on Thursday. The incident occurred in the 2400 block of Washington Avenue, where the church regularly serves hot meals and bagged lunches to the community. The suspect remains at large, and no description has been released. The church's meal services operate from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Washington Street entrance of the school hall.
If you regulary serve the homeless, the chances of violent crime happening at your church will increase. I recommend taking my course on Assessing Threats and Deescalation Tactics. It will help you detect threats and solve problems before they happen.
MISC NEWS
Ammunition Prices to Go Up, Shortages Expected
An email was sent to ammo retailers this week outlining upcoming shortages and price increases. This will affect your training and possibly your qualifications. I put together a video with the latest news and tips to help you through ammo shortages.
CURRENT THREAT CONDITION
High Risk of Attacks
In light of recent developments and ongoing concerns, it’s crucial for us to remain vigilant. Our Church Security Threat Level is still at HIGH (ORANGE). This status is not meant to induce panic or lead to drastic measures, but rather to remind us all to stay aware and prepared. The threats are real, and it’s vital to continue implementing and practicing our security protocols diligently. Stay informed, stay prepared, and let’s keep our churches open and welcoming while maintaining a heightened state of awareness.
SEX CRIMES
North Texas Youth Pastor Charged with Sexual Assault
A youth pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury, Texas, has been charged with sexually assaulting a child. The church suspended 41-year-old Luke Cunningham on June 2 after learning from outside sources about the allegations related to his conduct with a minor at a different church. Following an internal investigation, the church dismissed Cunningham and reported their findings to law enforcement. Cunningham was arrested by U.S. Marshals near Lubbock and is being held in the Lubbock County jail on a $200,000 bond. Lakeside Baptist Church emphasized its commitment to preventing clerical sexual abuse and criticized the Southern Baptist Convention for not having a working database of offenders, which they believe could have prevented Cunningham's employment at their church.
If you have one sexual assault victim, you have many more. With every bad event like this, do an internal investigation and be as transparent as you can. When the press calls, make sure you are ready with a statement. Don’t let someone else run with a narrative that paints you in a bad light.
Texas Megachurch Pastor Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Allegations
Robert Morris, founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Texas, resigned following allegations that he sexually abused a minor between 1982 and 1987. The victim, who was 12 years old when the abuse began, recently came forward, leading the church's board of elders to accept Morris's resignation and initiate an investigation by an external law firm. The board expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the allegations, which have shaken the church community.
PROPERTY CRIMES
NYC Pastor Sentenced to 9 Years for Fraud, Including Stealing $90k from Single Mom
Lamor Whitehead, pastor of Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Brooklyn, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for multiple counts of fraud and attempted extortion. Whitehead was found guilty of defrauding his followers, including taking $90,000 from a single mother in his congregation under false pretenses. The sentencing follows a high-profile series of events in 2022, where Whitehead was previously robbed during a livestreamed service and later charged with various financial crimes. The pastor has maintained his innocence and plans to appeal the verdict.
Santa Barbara County Man Sentenced for Defrauding Seniors He Met at Church
Brett Edward Lovett, a legal document assistant from Santa Barbara County, California, has been sentenced to over 16 years in state prison for running a fraudulent investment scheme targeting elderly victims, including some members of his church. Lovett promised high returns on investments but used the funds for personal expenses such as cosmetic procedures and vacations. The scheme was uncovered after a 78-year-old victim reported the fraud to the State Department of Insurance, leading to the discovery of additional victims and Lovett's conviction on 29 felony counts.
We all talk at church. Keep an eye out for people defrauding your seniors and watch people that seem to focus only on seniors at your church. Again, many predators come to churches because of our trusting nature and our forgiveness.
Multiple Church AC Units Destroyed in Thefts
Cornerstone Hispanic Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, experienced significant vandalism when five air conditioning units were destroyed, resulting in a financial burden for the congregation. The thieves stole copper and other parts from the units, forcing the church to relocate its services to the children's center. Similarly, Praise Center Family Church in north Tulsa faced a similar theft earlier this month. Both churches are advising others to enhance security measures around their AC units.
There are two reasons your AC unit can be destroyed in a burglary. The first and most common reason is methamphetamine addicts stealing the copper wire. The second is youths stealing the freon to get high (they huff the freon, which is very dangerous). If you have a church in a high crime area, you may want to look at ways of securing your AC units.
Suspects Sought for Multiple Church Car Break-Ins and Thefts in Memphis
Memphis police are searching for two suspects involved in a series of car break-ins and thefts targeting churches. The suspects, caught on surveillance video, attempted to steal vehicles and caused significant damage at multiple locations, including a church on Walnut Grove Road and Bellevue Baptist Church. One victim, whose SUV's steering column and ignition were damaged, reported that his vehicle had been targeted twice in six weeks. Authorities urge churches to enhance security measures and ask anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers.
First, it is common for thieves to target church parking lots and gyms because they know that the owners of the cars will be tied up for at least an hour. That gives them time to break into multiple cars in one central area. I recommend keeping security personnel in the parking lot, as well as a 4k Video system recording the lot. Don’t keep anything valuable in your car, ever. Take it with you. Lastly, a pastor in this same city was shot in the face after trying to stop a person from stealing a car in the parking lot during service a few months ago. I end every video I post with the phrase, “Remember your ABC’s, always be carrying.” Most thieves are armed with some type of weapon. You need to remember that.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Somali Man Attacked by Relatives for Converting to Christianity
Mohammad Abdul, a 40-year-old Somali man, sustained serious injuries after being attacked by his relatives for converting to Christianity. The assault occurred on May 5, 2024, in Kismayo, Somalia. Following the attack, Abdul’s wife and five children left to live with Muslim relatives. Abdul, who converted in March through a local pastor's ministry, had been holding evening prayer meetings with his family. After their activities were disclosed, one of Abdul's children was bullied, and Abdul himself was attacked with a knife. For his safety, Abdul has since relocated to another city. Somalia, where Islam is the state religion, ranks as the second most difficult country to be a Christian according to the 2024 World Watch List.
Thank you Brother!! Enjoy your time in the middle of nowhere Tennessee!
Blessings 🔥🛡️⚔️🔥
Having the Mantis system has worked awesome for me, I also have the Mantis Blackbeard which works great for my AR-15. It’s lots of fun training with this system. I would encourage people to invest in this for the betterment of their family’s lives.