Global Persecution of Christians Surges in 2024

Violent religious persecution continues to increase around the world, with North Korea topping the annual World Watch List produced by Open Doors, which ranks the top 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme brutality. The intensity of cruelty has significantly increased this year, with approximately 380 million Christians (1 in 7) worldwide now experiencing high levels of persecution for their faith (an increase of 15 million in just one year).

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

[ Read the SemperVerus article of Bible verses from the book of Romans that quickly and simply present the Good News that is life through faith in Jesus Christ ]

Murdered for their faith were 4,476 Christians, Open Doors said in the report covering events in 2024.

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The 5 Lines of Defense in Church Security, Beginning Outside

You’ve seen the headlines:

• “FBI Warns of Terror Threats to Churches, Synagogues”
• “Idaho Teen Accused of Planning Church Attacks in Loyalty to Islamic State”
• “Churches Urged to Be Vigilant Against Increasing Threats”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]

Here are practical suggestions to harden your church building and sharpen your defensive practices to keep your congregants and facilities safe from criminal and terrorist attacks:

•  Erect bollards and/or reinforced concrete planters parallel to the entire church building’s exterior that is most vulnerable to vehicle attacks (e.g., doors, glass windows and walls, etc.).

•  Affix security film on all first-floor windows and glass walls, reinforcing them to resist criminal breakage.

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Significant Six EDC for Self-Defense in Terrorist Times

We live in dangerous times. Not only do we need to protect ourselves from civilian criminals who want to rob us and run, we need to be ready to defend ourselves from trained enemy combatants living among us who are bent on nothing less than killing as many people as possible.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]

They weaponize anything to accomplish their objective, from fashioning everyday items into shrapnel-infested bombs, to renting cars, vans, and trucks with the goal of viciously mowing down pedestrians, whether in broad daylight or during night-time celebrations.

[ Read articles in the SemperVerus category of SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ]

With that in mind, we should reconsider what our basic Every Day Carry (EDC) items should consist of to properly be prepared for possible violent threats as we go about our daily activity. SemperVerus suggests these Significant Six categories as fundamental to bear in mind:

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Video: Let Your Conscience By Your Guide

The name SemperVerus® is Latin for Stay True. It’s based on the Bible verse 1 Timothy 4:16 (NLT) — “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.”

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the subject of BE ]

The third element of the five SemperVerus components is BE, which emphasizes the importance of prioritizing integrity, honesty, and general uprightness in your life. It reads:

III. Be: developing rich personal leadership character of exemplary moral and ethical quality.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Secure Your Base (Your Soul) ]

The fifth element of the five SemperVerus components is DO, the working out in your everyday life of the first four qualities. It reads:

V. Do: resolving to intentionally and skillfully act to accomplish positive and fruitful outcomes.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Door of Leadership Swings on the Hinge of Character ]

In the decisions we face every moment of every day, we stay true to what is right and stay true to our aim when we follow the Holy Spirit in our lives and keep the SemperVerus Brotherhood/Sisterhood virtues front-and-center in our mind:

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