BELOW ARE RECENT CRIMINAL ACTS THAT ARE CHURCH-RELATED, MOST OF WHICH OCCURRED THIS PAST JANUARY AND DECEMBER.

PASTOR CHARGED WITH PLACING CAMERAS IN BATHROOM SO HE CAN WATCH WOMEN - The pastor of Casa de Adoracion in Phoenix, AZ is being charged with voyeurism. He was arrested in November for allegedly recording women in the church bathroom. The crime came to light after a hidden camera fell out of a dryer while a woman was changing her baby’s diaper inside the strip mall church. The pastor admitted putting up the camera in October and when police scanned the camera's SD card they found four short videos of adult females. READ STORY

• (15 Dec) Gun left in church. A man attended the morning service at East Swamp Church in Quakertown, PA. He apparently put his gun under the seat during the service and forgot it when he left to return home. Another member later discovered the weapon while cleaning the building and contacted state police. The owner of the gun was identified, and charges are pending approval from the Bucks County District Attorney's Office. Not sure what law was broken, but shows the need to sweep the building before leaving. You may find a gun.

• (20 Dec) Church funds stolen. The pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND contacted police about missing church funds. A female employee who had only been working at the church for a few months allegedly took $38,000 from the church instead of depositing the money. She also made unauthorized purchases using the church credit card. After being fired she turned over to church and police two locked bank deposit bags. Three more unsecured bank deposit bags were later reportedly found in her car, totaling $16,313 in checks and cash. Apparently she lied on a job application in an effort to conceal a previous felony conviction. Everyone involved with church finances should be properly vetted. Have written policies and procedures and DO a background check.

• (24 Dec) Vehicles targeted. How disheartening to come out of church on Christmas Eve to find your windows smashed and all your gifts and belongings in your car stolen. St. Joseph’s Church in Penfield, NY was holding a Christmas mass. While people were inside enjoying the services thieves were going through cars in the parking lot. At least 13 cars that had their windows smashed and their presents and belongings missing. One vehicle was stolen. As everyone looked at their cars in shock and disbelief the police arrived. Why do so many of our churches continue to be in denial? Be a proactive church in 2025. This crime was preventable.

• (24 Dec) Man disrupts services. Police arrested a man after incidents at the Holy Angels Catholic Church and St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Leonardtown, MD. The man had obvious mental problems. In both cases he disturbed the peace and threatened to harm several parishioners as he was being escorted from the buildings. 

• (27 Dec) Unbelievable! Pastor accused of bank robbery. The pastor and his wife both pastored the Landmark Church of the Nazarene in Phenix City, AL. They were recently married and she participated in the robbery. He allegedly entered the Phenix City Girard Bank with a handgun and demanded money. An undisclosed amount of money was taken from the bank and no injuries were reported. This story sounds like it came from the fake news source Babylon Bee, but this story is real.

• (29 Dec) Church suicide. Fontana, CA police responded to a shooting at the Water of Life Community Church early Sunday evening. A beloved member of the church was apparently having a mental health issue and ended his life inside the church. No services were taking place at the time of the incident and no other people were injured.

• (31 Dec) Sexual battery. A grand jury has returned an indictment charging a female youth minister at Getwell Church in Hernando, MS with having sex with a female child. The sad reality is, just because someone looks like you should trust them doesn’t mean you can and so you have to be vigilant. A lot of these offenders are in the churches because that is where they find opportunities.

• (31 Dec) Parishioner grazed by bullet. The Church Of God Holiness in Pasadena, TX was holding their New Year’s Eve Service when a bullet came through the window and grazed a woman in the head. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt as the church was full of people. Two members of the congregation who worked in law enforcement quickly rushed everyone into a secure room. 

• (4 Jan) Synagogues threatened. A man from Beverly, MA was arrested for inciting others on social media. He allegedly posted threats on the internet against Jewish people, including threats of rape and encouraging them to shoot people outside of the synagogues. He was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation, and a search of his home recovered a Nazi flag, a 9mm Glock ghost gun with no serial number, six boxes of ammunition, $70,000 in cash, and various firearms parts and accessories including stocks, scopes, pistol frames, and rifle lower receivers

• (8 Jan) Possession of firearm. Around 9 AM the kids were in the preschool on the property of Bayside Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach, VA. Police received a call about a disorderly person on the property. On arrival they approached the man who advised officers he was armed. He was detained and charged with possession of a firearm on school property. Reports indicate that the doors were locked and the suspect was not able to enter the facility. 

• (9 Jan) Friar arrested on child pornography charges. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip last May that sexual images of children were being downloaded. After a months long investigation a friar at Resurrection Anglican Church in Shalimar, FL was arrested on 30 counts of possession of child pornography. The suspect was 64 years old. Not everyone at church is always what they appear to be. No such thing as a harmless old man. Do background checks and have written policies in place.

Other incidents on or near Faith Based property. 

• Windsor, MS: Thieves broke into First Baptist Church causing damage to the building and stealing several items including a custom-built computer. 
• Houston, TX: A person was detained after a suspicious package was found at Lakewood church following a bomb threat. 
• Bossier City, LA: A retired high-ranking police officer and pastor of Embrace Me Ministries has been arrested for alleged sex crimes involving a minor. 
• Galveston, TX: Surveillance cameras at Temple Emanuel Christian Church recorded the theft of an expensive BBQ pit and trailer taken from the parking lot. 
• Wisner, LA: High winds from a severe storm destroyed the fellowship hall of Holly Grove Baptist Church. 
• Hughes, AR: A police officer was involved in the shooting death of a 26-year-old woman. She was causing a disturbance outside the Hughes Church of God with a gun before being shot. No details have been provided about what led up to the shooting. 
• Warren, PA: A trash dumpster was set on fire at The River Church. 
• Lake Wylie, SC: A man has been charged with causing more than $75,000 in damage to four area churches Sunday afternoon. He used a baseball bat to break windows and doors. Redeeming Grace Presbyterian Church had almost $55,000 in damage to the sanctuary, fellowship hall, nursery and offices. Good Samaritan United Methodist Church, River Hills Community Church and Lake Wylie Christian Assembly had a combined damage of more than $21,000. 
• Butler, PA: A man was arrested and charged with stealing between $200 and $300 from a donation box at St. Paul's Church. 
• Uniontown, PA: During the morning service a man with mental issues was arrested for threatening to drive his vehicle through St. George Maronite Church. 
• Wenatchee, WA: A man was arrested after making threats against Grace City Church and its members in a video posted to social media. 
• Houston, TX: A homeless man is accused of threatening to release deadly sarin gas during a Christmas Eve service at the Lakewood megachurch and is facing a felony charge. 
• Mt. Airy, GA: Welcome Home Baptist Church was recently vandalized. Windows were broken in the sanctuary as well as the glass doors. 
• Hopkinsville, KY: Approximately $3,000 worth of property was stolen from Bluff Springs Church of Christ on New Years Day. 
• Manassas, VA: Officers responded to an attempted burglary at McLean Bible Church where a man was trying to gain entry to the building and several vehicles in the parking lot. 
• Kinston, NC: Suspect steals two wheelchair access ramps from Rivermont Baptist Church. 
• Houston, TX: Two men broke into Bethel's Place Empowerment Center causing $100,000 in estimated damage.