Murder victim found in front of Church, Jihadis Slit Throats of 26 Christians
There are numerous sexual assaults in this week’s newsletter. This happens every week and I am getting really angry at seeing this week after week. I am addressing this issue on Wednesday’s newsletter where I make the observation that we are spending more time for an active shooter scenario than we are for sexual assaults that may occur at our church (even though you are more likely to have a sexual assault occur than an active shooter).
Lastly, check out my weekly roundup of this newsletter on my video below. I do go into a little more detail about responses to these crimes that you might find helpful
CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS
Man Arrested After Hiding in Frisco Church Ceiling to Evade Police
A man, Daniel Ryan Keith, was arrested after fleeing a traffic stop and hiding in the ceiling of First Frisco Global Methodist Church in Frisco, Texas. Keith, who had an outstanding warrant, ran into the church, which also houses a preschool, prompting a lockdown. Police used a drone to locate him, and he was arrested without incident. Keith was charged with multiple offenses, including evading arrest and failing to identify as a fugitive.
It seems as if each week somebody runs from the police, or an attacker, and fleas to a church. Each time I tell you that people fleeing trouble will seek refuge at a church if it is nearby. You need to be alert to this. If you see police activity near your church, you may want to lock down your church until you find out what is going on. You're doing this to protect the people inside of the church. People fleeing the police are often mentally unstable or on drugs and their behavior is unpredictable. One of our readers noted in a comment the other day about this incident and that there was a preschool attached to the church. You have to protect the children that are at the church. If somebody enters the church that is fleeing the police, move your people away to safety and notify the police right away of where the suspect is. I would not try to take that person into custody. Even as a retired police officer, I would not unless I had no choice. Leave it for the guys on duty.
Man Charged in Beating Death Outside Minneapolis Church
Byron Vinicio Vargas Bautista, 38, was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly beating 57-year-old Felisha Smith to death outside a Minneapolis church in July. Surveillance footage showed Bautista and Smith together on the night of the crime, and police later identified him as the suspect. Bautista, who claims no memory of the event, was arrested two months later after being recognized by officers. He remains in custody with a $1 million bail, awaiting his next court appearance in October.
The victim was found right outside of the church. The case was solved by the use of surveillance video. It is unknown if it was video from the church or nearby businesses and residences, however it is important that each church have a 4k video system.
Brighton Man Assaults Church Volunteers and Staff
Brian Spring, 48, assaulted volunteers at St. Mary’s Church in Brighton after seeking help due to soiling himself. He verbally abused and physically attacked three volunteers. In a separate incident, Spring, intoxicated on drugs, assaulted a staff member at a sheltered housing facility and resisted arrest, attempting to headbutt and spit on police officers.
When people are high on drugs, they do not think like normal people. If you see pre attack indicators (see the article below) disengage from the person and try deescalation (you can take that course for free here).
Two Juveniles Charged After Jefferson County Church Break-In and Carjacking
Two juveniles in Jefferson County, Tennessee, were charged after breaking into Ebenezer Methodist Church and later stabbing a man during a carjacking on Valley Home Road. The victim was hospitalized and is in stable condition. The juveniles were arrested after a police pursuit, with one found to have overdosed and needing medical attention. Charges include aggravated assault, carjacking, and burglary.
What would you do if you encountered these two juveniles breaking into your church? I have confronted numerous burglars in the middle of their crime. I always confront them at gunpoint. This means that when I see them, I point my gun at them and tell them to not move. I will suggest you do the same thing. Burglars are often armed and will commit violence when they're confronted. You do need to be prepared to deal with an attack. That means you should have less than lethal options available to you in case it turns out to not be a deadly force situation. You also need to have self-defense insurance. I did a complete review of all of the major self-defense insurance companies. You can see the article below.
Bomb Scare at St. Henry RC Church in Bayonne
A bomb scare at St. Henry RC Church in Bayonne, New Jersey, prompted a large police response on Saturday, September 21. After the 5:30 p.m. Mass, police informed the church’s pastor, Rev. Raul Gaviola, about a threat involving an active shooter and a pipe bomb set to go off at 7 p.m. K9 units and the Jersey City bomb squad were called to the scene, but the church was declared secure.
People that want to pull off an active shooter, or even a bombing, don’t normally call ahead to let people know. It kind of defeats the purpose. I’m not minimizing the threat. But, I would call the police and I would CONTINUE with my service. Your safety ministry is just going to have to work a little bit harder.
FAITH AND POLITICS
This week I read numerous articles (a few of them below), all different and not from the same source, about the need for Christians to speak out about “Christian Nationalism.” Why am I bringing it up in this week’s bulletin? Because it has everything to do with safety of our churches. I have been accused of being a Christian Nationalist. I believe in our Lord and Savior and that Jesus died for our sins. I also believe in protecting my country. After all, I am a veteran and I spent 30 years protecting the citizens of my community as a police officer. It does seem that these people speaking out belong to one side of the political aisle (the left) and are whipping up sentiment against Christians on the other side of the political aisle (the right). This worries me as mentally unstable people will listen to this obviously coordinated attack against a segment of our Christian community as a call to vandalize or demonstrate and disrupt services at specific churches. I give this to you to do with it as you wish, but keep your churches open and your head on a swivel.
“I just left The United Methodist Church for an Alliance of Baptists congregation“
‘Christian Nationalist’ Danger Focus of Church Talk
Sex Crimes
Man Arrested for Sexual Assaults at Lancaster County Church
A man has been arrested for a series of sexual assaults that occurred over a year at New Providence Church of God in Providence Township, Pennsylvania. Michael Hess, 49, is accused of inappropriately touching a child on a weekly basis during Bible study sessions in 2011, when the victim was 7 to 8 years old. Hess, a volunteer at the church at the time, was arrested after the victim recently came forward. The church is cooperating with state police and has expressed deep concern for the victim and their family.
I’m relying on news reports, but I can’t understand how this went unnoticed by anyone at the bible study. Teach your children that it is not OK for any person, adult or child, to touch their private parts inside or outside of their clothing. Open communication with your child is paramount. Let them know to come to you and that they would never get into trouble for talking to you about this. Adults should stay vigilant, including never allowing one person to be alone with children. Use the two person rule for all child contacts. Remember, predators get jobs at churches, whether paid or volunteer, so that they have more contact with kids. They choose churches because of your forgiving nature and the fact that churches let their guard down.
Ohio Priest Reassigned After Failing to Report Child Abuse Images
Father Barry Stechschulte, a priest from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, has been reassigned despite admitting to ordering the destruction of potential child sex abuse images found on a church computer in 2012. Stechschulte, then at Holy Rosary Church in St. Mary’s, instructed a deacon to destroy a hard drive containing inappropriate images, including child pornography. The incident was not reported to police until 2018, six years after the images were discovered. Stechschulte resigned from his post at St. Susanna Church in July 2024, but has since been assigned to rural parishes outside Dayton.
It doesn’t matter who you are, if you find child pornography on a computer, you need to call the police. It is a felony to possess it and it is a sin to not report it. In Matthew 18:6 Jesus warns against causing harm to children, saying, "But if anyone causes one of these little ones... to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck." Ephesians 5:11 calls believers to “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” The Bible also teaches that justice should be upheld, and wrongdoers must be held accountable (Isaiah 1:17). Lastly Romans 13:1-2 urges Christians to submit to governing authorities and uphold laws that are established for the common good. Failing to do so is not only a legal offense but also a sin against God’s order for justice. Look, to be clear, it is unbelievable that any of us would hide a heinous crime like this.
Texas Priest Faces Additional Sexual Assault Charges Involving Multiple Women
A Texas grand jury has indicted Roman Catholic priest Anthony Odiong on additional sexual assault charges, bringing the total to seven charges involving three women. Odiong, who was arrested in July 2024, is accused of preying on women he met while providing spiritual guidance in Texas and Louisiana. The latest indictment adds four first-degree sexual assault charges, which could result in life imprisonment if he is convicted. Odiong allegedly exploited his role as a spiritual advisor to manipulate and coerce women into inappropriate relationships. Investigations also uncovered child abuse material in his possession, though no formal charges related to those allegations have been filed. Odiong remains in custody with a $5.5 million bail, while more than eight women have come forward with similar accusations.
There will be more abuse victims than just the ones presented here. If he was a priest at your church, you should immediately reach out to your congregation and look for additional victims. Many will be afraid to come forward, so you must make them comfortable to come talk about this issue with their local police department. If you have a victim in your area, call the police and let the investigators know about the case in Texas and what is alleged at your church.
Texas Youth Pastor Sentenced to 50 Years for Sexually Abusing Minors
Marvin Scales, a former youth pastor from Waxahachie, Texas, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for multiple counts of child sexual abuse, including fathering a child with a 14-year-old. The investigation began in August 2023 when police were alerted to his involvement in the girl’s life. Further investigations revealed that Scales had a history of inappropriate behavior with children from his congregation, often during overnight trips or sleepovers. Authorities found recordings of the incidents, leading to the discovery of more victims. Scales, already a registered offender, will not be eligible for parole.
How was a registered sex offender allowed to be alone with children from his congregation? We want God to forgive us, but part of that is realizing that we must forgive others. However, that doesn’t mean you would let a convicted sex offender that must register to be alone with children or women. I don’t get it. Why don’t these churches do background checks? A simple Google search and a check of the Megan’s law database would have revealed much of this. We need to get our acts together. Sex crimes dominate our newsletter. Not because I’m cherry picking stories, but because that is what is happening. Texas, you are leading the pack with these cases. I’m not picking on Texas, i’m just giving you a warning.
Gateway Church Revokes Membership of Critical Congregant
Valentina Hansen, a former member of Gateway Church in Texas, had her membership revoked after publicly criticizing the church's handling of sexual abuse allegations against its founder, Robert Morris. Hansen claimed the church lacked transparency and accountability, particularly regarding finances and the employment of a registered sex offender. After her criticism, she was escorted from church property by armed guards. The church leadership cited "sowing discord" as the reason for her dismissal.
The saga of Gateway Church in Texas…. you have seen them multiple times this year in the Sex Assault section. I agree with this person that Gateway does not seem to be very transparent. With that said, I am seeing incidents in the press about congregants being excommunicated from their church. In two recent examples, it seems to be done more for issues about non-Biblical issues. This bothers me and makes me think of what you should do if your church asks you to remove someone from your church that has not done anything biblically wrong (or has not broken the law for that matter). In law enforcement, we do not get involved in non crimes. We will do what is called a “civil standby” to ensure that the peace is kept. Personally, I would not let church leaders use me as their armed political enforcers. I bring this up because I am seeing it more and more. Think about these issues ahead of time and think about what your response would be. I’ll give more clarity in the video above, because I know a lot of you will have questions about this.
ARSON
Thank the Lord that there were no reported Arsons this week.
PROPERTY CRIME
Statue of Blessed Mother Vandalized at Jamaica Church
A statue of the Virgin Mary was vandalized early Tuesday morning at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Jamaica, Queens. Surveillance footage captured a man using a rock to damage the statue around 3:15 a.m., leaving the face, side, and hands of the statue broken. The statue, originally donated by Mary Immaculate Hospital in 2009, is located in front of the church rectory on Parsons Boulevard. This incident marks the second act of vandalism at the church in recent years. The NYPD is investigating and is asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
This is what I mean when I say a 4k video system. You can clearly make out the suspect’s crime and you can identify him. NYPD has a robust facial recognition program that can compare his face to anyone arrested in NY. Make sure you have as much coverage as you can afford for your church. If this is your church, you should make a bulletin with the suspect’s picture and give it to not only your staff and volunteers, but also to area churches. This allows others to be on the lookout for him in case he comes back, or to another church, to commit more crimes.
Serial Church Burglar Arrested in Cameron County
A man accused of multiple burglaries at churches in Cameron County, Texas, has been arrested. Daniel Chavez, 37, was identified as the suspect in several break-ins at San Felipe De Jesus Church in Cameron Park and Iglesia de Rios de Agua Viva in Brownsville. Chavez reportedly attempted to break into San Felipe De Jesus Church on August 22, followed by successful burglaries where lawn equipment was stolen. Surveillance footage eventually led to his arrest on August 27 after he was found wearing the same clothing seen in the videos. Chavez faces multiple felony charges for burglary and criminal mischief.
This is my weekly reminder that you need a burglar/fire alarm and a 4k video system for your church.
Minnesota Priest Under Investigation for Alleged $72,000 Fraud Scheme
A fraud investigation has been launched in southeastern Minnesota, focusing on Rev. Prince Amala Jesuraja Jebamalia Selvaraj of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Selvaraj, who served as pastor at St. Felix in Wabasha and St. Agnes in Kellogg, is accused of requesting nearly $72,000 in gifts and loans from parishioners for fraudulent reasons. Despite being asked to stop soliciting money in May, Selvaraj continued to seek financial support from parishioners, allegedly under false pretenses. He resigned on September 1 and has since returned to India. Church officials are cooperating with law enforcement, but no criminal charges have been filed at this time.
He will not be extradited from India. The cost and legal wrangling needed to get him here will not be worth it in the eyes of the state. It’s hard enough to get a murder suspect extradited from Mexico let alone a fraudster from India.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Violent Attacks on Nigerian Churches Leave Several Dead and Dozens Kidnapped
In recent attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, multiple Christian communities were targeted. On September 15, three Christians were killed and 30 kidnapped, including a pastor, during worship services at Evangelical and Catholic churches in Kajuru County. Similar assaults occurred earlier in the month, including murders and abductions in nearby villages. Authorities are working to rescue those abducted. These incidents highlight Nigeria's ongoing crisis, where thousands of Christians face violence each year.
This is a weekly occurrence for Christians in Nigeria and surrounding countries. Nigerians, post one person at likely approaches to your church and one at your door. When the observer sees something suspicious, he will call out to the monitor at the door. Lock the church down and start barricading all doors and windows. Self defense is not a sin. If the attackers break through your barricade, attack the attackers with whatever weapon you can find. Most attackers will disengage when they are attacked themselves.
Jihadists Kill 26 Christians During Worship in Burkina Faso
In late August 2024, Islamist extremists in Burkina Faso carried out a brutal two-day killing spree, murdering hundreds of civilians, including 26 Christians during a worship service at a Protestant church in Sanaba. The militants tied the hands of the victims and slit their throats. This attack, part of a wider jihadist insurgency, is one of the deadliest incidents in the country since the insurgency began. The conflict continues to destabilize Burkina Faso, targeting Christians and churches frequently.
Barricaded Suspect at Norfolk, England Church Involving Man in Mental Distress
An armed siege at St Martins Church in Overstrand, Norfolk, continues as police respond to a man inside the church reportedly carrying a knife. Authorities were called to the scene on Thursday afternoon after receiving reports of a man experiencing severe mental health distress. Specialist negotiators and firearms officers are on-site, though police state there is no immediate threat to the public. The surrounding area remains cordoned off, and residents are advised to avoid the scene while the situation is handled. Police are working to resolve the incident safely and swiftly.
Nine Arson Attacks Target European Catholic Churches
Between late August and mid-September, nine Catholic churches in Europe were targeted in arson attacks. The incidents occurred across the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, France, and Germany. Among the worst-hit was the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, France, which was destroyed. A suspect with a history of similar offenses has been arrested. These attacks reflect a broader trend of rising violence against Catholic churches globally, with increased incidents also reported in the United States.
Great job on your commitment to keeping the body informed. This week, from the MSM we heard about a confessed killer's execution being a lynching, Harris, Trump, the UN (though very little about the 'pact for the future UN 2.0'), Ukraine in Pennsylvania - but nothing about our Christian sisters and brothers being kidnapped and slaughtered in Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Thank God for honest reporting!
So informative. Thank you. Will pray for all victims and the protection of all who defend them!