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Dear John,
Last week, a shooting at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, made national headlines. But every week, churches in the United States are victims of crime, be it vandalism, arson, gun-related incidents, bomb threats, or other criminal acts.
Today, FRC released the newest edition of our Hostility Against Churches report, updated to include hostility incidents from the year 2023. In 2023, FRC identified 436 incidents -- more than double the number identified in 2022 and more than eight times the number identified in 2018.
These findings suggest that hostility against U.S. churches is not only on the rise but rapidly accelerating.
The incidents compiled in FRC's report range from vandalism committed by juveniles or persons struggling with mental illness to bomb threats and shootings deliberately targeting a church congregation. No matter the motive, acts of hostility against churches can convey a message that churches are not wanted in the community or respected in general.
There is little question that the anti-biblical policies being pushed by the present administration are fomenting hostility toward the church in general and Bible-teaching churches specifically.
John, we must not only raise the alarm about this dangerous trend, but we must Pray, Vote, and Stand against it. Will you help us?
STAND WITH FRC
As Founder and President of Lionheart International Services Group, Tim Miller, shared on Washington Watch last week, "We're seeing not only the frequency but the severity of these attacks continue."
Family Research Council is no stranger to this open hostility against Christians. As you may know, we were attacked by an armed (LGBTQ) gunman in 2012 because of our stance on biblical marriage.
Jesus promised His followers that they would experience persecution for following Him: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19).
Despite this increased persecution, we should not operate out of a place of fear -- we just need to prepare, take the right precautions, and demand government officials restrain, not inspire lawlessness.
With educational resources like our newly updated Hostility Against Churches report and webinar training events, FRC is working to inform, prepare, and equip pastors and churches to continue standing firm for biblical truth despite this increased hostility toward Christianity in the United States.
Will you partner with us in providing pastors with this much-needed support?
PARTNER WITH FRC
As I pointed out in my interview with Tim Miller on Washington Watch, we are seeing hostility being directed at religious institutions that hold to traditional morality, and that's coming from our own government -- creating an environment where people feel empowered to act violently toward believers.
The question is, John, how long will we allow this to continue?
By partnering with FRC today, you're equipping us to:
- Educate legislators on threats like this to faith, family, and freedom;
- Advance policies on Capitol Hill to defend religious liberty, protect the sanctity of life, and guard our children from radical gender ideology;
- Provide believers with news they can trust from a biblical worldview through our daily Washington Watch program and our news outlet, The Washington Stand;
- Encourage pastors across the nation to preach the whole counsel of God's Word and stand firm for biblical truth;
- And so much more!
FRC has stood for faith, family, and freedom for decades, and that's why our work is so critical. We will never step back, we will never surrender, and we will never be silent.
Thank you for joining with us.
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