As the 2024 election approaches, Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin to warn about the increased risk of attacks on communities across the nation—including “faith-based institutions.”

“Recent tragic events highlight the continued heightened threat environment our nation faces, and these threats are driven by violent extremists who seek to further their ideological beliefs and personal grievances,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, who personally issued the bulletin. “We are working with partners across every level of government, within the private sector, and in local communities to keep Americans safe.”

The Homeland Security Department says it anticipates heightened threats from individuals “motivated to violence” by 2024 general election cycle viewpoints and government decisions on sociopolitical issues.  

The bulletin states, “U.S. critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel are likely targets of potential violence.”

The bulletin was issued on May 24, exactly one year after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, a decision that has stirred much violence toward pro-life Christians. 

According to LifeNews, there have been nearly 300 abortion-related attacks in America since 2022. This includes several fire bombings of pro-life centers, Antifa shutting down a pro-lifer’s speech at Virginia Commonwealth University with violent threats, and the vandalism of numerous pro-life billboards and pregnancy centers.

The Family Research Council (FRC) also reported there’s been an uptick of attacks on U.S. churches, with 69 incidents occurring from January to March of this year. “If this rate continues, 2023 will have the highest number of incidents of the six years FRC has tracked, continuing the upward trend,” the report says.

In a recent talk at the National Religious Broadcasters annual conference, Franklin Graham addressed hostility toward Christians while specifically speaking about religious media.

“If you’re not going to preach the Gospel, you don’t have anything to worry about,” Graham said. “If you’re not going to talk about sin, you’re not going to have anything to worry about; but if you’re going to proclaim the Gospel, they’re going to try to shut you up.”

“Jesus told us the world hated [Him] first and they’re going to hate you,” he continued. “If you stand for Christ, the world is going to hate you.”

Please pray for churches to withstand any attacks and continue to stand strong for the Gospel during the upcoming months.

Photo: Chris Juhn/ZUMA Wire (via Newscom)