Articles by semperverus

Intel & Tactics to Defend Against Drone Threats

To meet the challenges of drone warfare, the Pentagon’s Joint Interagency Task Force–401 (JIATF 401) has published the 89-page Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Quick Reference Guide, a collection of intelligence and tactics surrounding the use of weaponized and military drones that is also applicable to civilian domestic threats, including church security.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Increasing Threat of Drones to Church Security ]

The guide begins with an overview by Matthew Ross, Brigadier General, US Army, director, Joint Interagency Task Force 401: “The proliferation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is changing the character of warfare and creating new challenges at home and abroad. Drones are increasingly capable, accessible, and adaptable, giving state and non-state actors the ability to conduct surveillance, disrupt operations, and deliver lethal effects. The threat is evolving rapidly, and our defenses must evolve with it.”

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Religious Organizations Among Targets for Chinese Cyber Threats

Malicious cyber activity enabled by the Integrity Technology Group (Integrity Tech)—a China-based company with ties to the Chinese government—is globally targeting religious, law enforcement, and education organizations, as well as entities in the fields of government services and facilities, critical manufacturing, healthcare and public health, and information technology US critical infrastructure sectors, according to a joint advisory by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI, National Security Agency (NSA), and international partners.

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Synagogue Suing Maryland County Over the Right of Armed Self Protection

Three years after the October 7, 2023, surprise antisemitic multi-pronged invasion and massacre across 119 locations in Israel by 6,000 militants and civilians of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and allied armed groups from the Gaza Strip—killing at least 1,195 people, wounding roughly 3,400 people, and abducting 251 as hostages—the Orthodox Jewish congregation, known as Congregation Ahavas Yisrael, in the Washington, DC, suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland, prompted by that atrocity, has five trained congregants on its security team who carry guns.

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More Than 500 Million Christians Worldwide Face Bible Access Restrictions Despite Increased Availability

The 2026 Bible Access List highlights the complex issue of Bible access and shortages worldwide, revealing that persecution-related restrictions, socioeconomic barriers and safe digital access limitations continue to put Scripture beyond reach despite increased availability.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of the BIBLE ]

Released by Bible Access Initiative, a coalition of ministries committed to Bible accessibility, the report evaluates 106 countries—88 more than were evaluated in 2025—and pinpoints the countries facing the greatest obstacles to Bible access.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 100 Million Christians Lack Access to the Bible ]

“We often hear that the Bible is more accessible than ever, but we must not confuse availability with access,” said Wybo Nicolai, co-creator of the Bible Access List. “Persecution-related Bible access restrictions can make accessing Scripture difficult or dangerous, while socioeconomic barriers can put a Bible beyond people’s reach. Even where Scripture is available digitally, limited internet coverage or unsafe online environments can still prevent people from accessing it.”

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Lessons from Executive Protection to Adapt to Church Security

What can past attacks teach us about protecting executives today? The report, Historical Patterns in Attacks on Executives: Threats Exposure and Protective Strategy by Joe LaSorsa of LaSorsa & Associates, examines recurring motives, vulnerabilities, and practical lessons for security teams, such as:

  • Visibility, predictable routines, and access help shape an executive’s exposure.
  • Threats can involve overlapping motives, including grievance, financial gain, and ideology.
  • Digital privacy and physical security need to work together.
  • Protection plans should include family support, medical response, and business continuity.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Protection Book Review: Just 2 Seconds ]

While the report focuses on violent incidents in the corporate and political worlds—involving Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, J. Paul Getty III, Ronald Reagan, and others—the defensive principles extracted from these executive protection attacks can be applied to church security environments—including ministry leaders, congregational attendees, and the church building—such as the following:

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