Christian Security Network Releases 2010 Assessment; But Many Crimes Go Unreported
Contact: Ty Mays, 770-256-8710, tmays@inchristcommunications.com
MANASSAS, Va., Feb. 2, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- For the past two years, arsonists have attacked an average of 100 churches, internal theft has cost congregations an average of more than a quarter-million dollars per incident and almost every area of crime against Christians and their places of worship is rising.
Christian Security Network (www.christiansecuritynetwork.org), a security organization with a mission to provide churches, schools, ministries and missionaries with training, information and resources to become safer and better prepared in today's world of risks, today released its annual report. "Crimes against Christian Organizations in the United States - 2010" contains statistics and other findings that Jeffrey Hawkins, CSN executive director, describes as "the tip of the iceberg."
While the FBI tracks hate crimes against religious institutions, "By all indications, crime is far higher against Christian organizations than is being reported," said Hawkins, a church security expert with almost 30 years of experience in police and security work.
In the two years that CSN has compiled statistics, only three categories -- robberies, violence and bomb threats -- have fallen from 2009 to 2010, and those only marginally. Burglary, thefts, arson, vandalism, internal theft, sex offenses and miscellaneous crime all increased, the report revealed.
Hawkins explains that hate crimes are reported by local police to the FBI and are inconsistent with what Christian churches have experienced, compared with other religions. "If people just look at the FBI Hate Crime reports, which average 100 crimes a year against Christian institutions, they are missing the thousands of others we are documenting" said Hawkins.
Aside from hate crimes, incidents like internal thefts are devastating to churches in the U.S., costing more than $15 million a year and forcing some to close their doors. Only a small percentage is ever discovered, and sometimes not until years later.
But these crimes are highly preventable, Hawkins said. "There are relatively simple checks and balances churches can implement to reduce or prevent many of these crimes, potentially averting financial disaster for a congregation," he said. "Becoming security-savvy is wise stewardship of God's resources."
The complete report, "Crimes against Christian Organizations in the United States -- 2010," is available at the CSN web site for a nominal fee. CSN also offers a free weekly newsletter that now reaches 10,000 people. It includes legal updates, educational articles on protecting churches from crime, recent incidents perpetrated against churches and global events.
Formerly chief security officer for a large international Christian ministry, Hawkins consults with denominations and individual churches. He serves as a Constituent Member of the U.S. State Department Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) and in volunteer leadership with the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS International), the world's largest organization of security professionals.
A graduate of the Chicago Police Academy, Hawkins has more than 1,000 hours of post-graduate training in security, law enforcement and emergency management. He has worked with White House Advance Teams, conducted investigations with the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and protection details for politicians and foreign dignitaries with the Diplomat Security Service (DSS), the U.S. Secret Service and foreign security agencies.
To arrange an interview with Mr. Hawkins, contact Ty Mays @ 770-256-8710 or tmays@inchristcommunications.com.
