IV – Know

Counterterrorism: Violent Extremism Mobilization Indicators

The US Violent Extremism Mobilization Indicators, 2025 Edition is a PDF pamphlet published by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to inform law enforcement, terrorism prevention practitioners, other first responders, community leaders, as well as the general public about both threats of violence and contextual behaviors that suggest an individual is mobilizing to violence.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of THREAT ANALYSIS ]

This is a helpful situational awareness resource for church security teams and self-defenders in general for identifying discernible pre-indicator signs of criminal and terrorist aggression.

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Bible Verses Applicable to Self-Defense and Church Security

For thus the LORD said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. — Isaiah 21:6

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

I will take my stand and keep watch. I will take my place on the tower. — Habakkuk 2:1

The Bible verses above are often referenced in establishing the importance of creating the ministry of a church security team. But actually the verses of Acts 20:28–29 could be considered the very foundation for church security directors and volunteers.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Biblical Case Why Every Church Needs Armed Security ]

While the Apostle Paul’s message charges church leaders to stay alert against spiritual heresy and sinful temptation—for themselves as well as for fellow believers—the Hebrew concepts and Greek words he uses also apply to oversight for physical protection. The terms “overseer” and “shepherd” are common biblical metaphors for leaders who provide for and protect—in all manner of speaking—God’s flock: the church.

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Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, & Thanksgiving

Sunday, May 17, 2026, the National Mall in Washington, DC, was the scene of an historic gathering as Americans of every background across the country prepared for the nation’s 250th birthday with Scripture, testimony, prayer, and rededication of America as One Nation Under God.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Celebrating 250 Years: Learn About the American Revolution ]

From morning fellowship in front of the US Capitol to an evening filled with music anchored at the main stage on 12th Street, Rededicate 250 was rooted in giving thanks for God’s presence in America’s national life throughout 250 years of American history and asking for his guidance for the next 250.

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US Department of Justice Task Force Reports Steps to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias in Government

In accordance with Executive Order 14202, the US Department of Justice Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias has published its 565-total-page report, Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias within the Federal Government, detailing how the Biden Administration’s prosecutions, policies, and practices demonstrated anti-Christian bias throughout the federal government from 2021 to 2025.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Report: US Government “Weaponized Its Full Weight Against Christians” 2021–2024 ]

“No American should live in fear that the federal government will punish them for their faith,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Chair of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. “As our report lays out, the Biden Administration’s actions devastated the lives of many Christian Americans. That devastation ended with President Trump. The Department of Justice will continue to expose bad actors who target Christians and work tirelessly to restore religious liberty for all Americans of faith.”

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The Ministry of Protection: Why Church Safety Teams Matter and How Serving in the Ministry of Protection Brings Clarity to the Calling

[The following is a guest article by Trevor DeGroote, a safety and protection professional with a background spanning law enforcement, private-sector operations, and consulting services. He’s the author of Serving in the Ministry of Protection: Fulfilling the Call to Faithful Readiness in the House of God.]

In recent years, conversations around church safety have shifted dramatically. What was once considered a distant “what if” has become a practical, deeply necessary part of ministry life. Across the Midwest and beyond, churches are recognizing that the responsibility to create a safe environment for worship is not merely logistical; it’s pastoral. It’s spiritual. It’s an act of service and love.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

That’s what makes the concept of a church safety team so vital. These groups of volunteers, men and women from within the congregation, stand quietly at the intersection of faith and readiness. Their job is not to control, but to care; not to intimidate, but to ensure peace. When done the right way, a church safety ministry doesn’t make a church feel guarded. It makes it feel secure enough to worship freely.

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