Dear John,

"The problem of acts of hostility against churches in the United States is widespread and growing. This is not a trend that should be shrugged off."

This warning by FRC's Arielle Del Turco summarizes Family Research Council's new report, "Hostility Against Churches Is on the Rise in the United States." FRC analyzed publicly available data from the past five years and found at least 420 acts of hostility against U.S. churches occurred between January 2018 and September 2022 across the nation.

The types of acts identified include 342 vandalism occurrences, 58 arson attacks or attempts, 12 gun-related incidents, 11 bomb threats, and 19 other incidents.

We found that acts of hostility against churches are increasing and had nearly tripled over the course of the reporting period. According to the report, "The first nine months of 2022 saw more than double the number of reported acts of hostility against churches that occurred in the entirety of 2018." Even the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported a spike in 2021, with 240 incidences of anti-Christian hate crimes, up from 172 in 2018.

These acts should not only be publicly condemned, but we must also foster a renewed reverence for religious freedom in America.

Your prayers and financial support help FRC embolden believers to stand upon the truth of God's Word and defend the right of all Americans to live out their faith free from fear and hostility.

Will you stand with FRC to advance biblical values and protect faith, family, and freedom without compromise?

Political tension is often the motivator for church assaults. There were spikes in recorded incidents during the protests and concurrent riots surrounding George Floyd's death in May 2020 and following the leak of the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in May 2022.

However, other factors such as radical pro-LGBT activism, secularism, Satanism, Islamic fundamentalism, and anti-Americanism also wrought havoc on churches across the country.

Sadly, this increase in hostility reflects a larger societal trend of intolerance toward Christianity.

I have seen the warning signs internationally with religious freedom under attack around the globe. As the mainstream culture in America moves further and further away from a biblical worldview, the hostility to moral truth is creeping closer to our shores. The West, once the safe haven of free speech and religion, is turning cold to our religious foundations that have helped us thrive.

While it is good to see the Biden administration acknowledge that these incidents are a problem, they must do more; the Department of Justice has so far largely ignored these growing attacks on churches and that is creating an environment of lawlessness around the country.

John, as Christians we must not be intimidated or give in to fear and discouragement. Remember the apostle Paul's words to Timothy: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).

Acts of hostility against churches are a threat to religious freedom. As citizens of this country, our response should be to condemn these attacks and uphold our nation's First Amendment. Our Constitution protects the right of all people to worship and live out their faith freely and without fear.

FRC will continue highlighting this growing trend as we promote policies and protections to stop its threat to religious liberty.

Your faithful prayers and financial partnership play a vital role in equipping Christians with a solid spiritual foundation and mobilizing believers to stand firm in the face of hostility to religious freedom.

As FRC celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, we are grateful for your faithful prayers and support that have enabled us to advance pro-life, pro-family, and pro-faith policies these past four decades. The lasting impact we continue to make is because of you. Thank you!

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