Dear friends,

Several times in the past year, scam “phishing” emails have been sent out to members of Grace Church pretending to be Chris. Those that responded to it were asked for money or gift cards or credit card numbers. This has happened again today. In the past, phone text messages also have been sent to members of our community, from a number that is not mine, soliciting financial help.

These are not the result of hacking into email or phone, but rather scams of a different sort. Unfortunately, it is very easy to impersonate another person in these ways, and many other churches are experiencing the same thing.

First of all, if you have been unsettled by this, please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to talk. I welcome an opportunity to listen to you.
 
Second, please know that, under no circumstances whatsoever, will I or any leader of Grace Church ask you for financial assistance of any form by email or text. And please help spread the word that this is so.

Third, if this happens to you, please do report it.

Grace Church staff and leadership will never ask you to send us money or monetary instruments over email or text.

Supporting Grace Church ministries through pledging or making payments to the church is only done through approved channels. We will never ask you to give checks, cash, or gift cards made out to us personally. If you get an email that says it is from Grace's leadership asking for money in any form, please do not respond to it and report it.

With much gratitude for you,
Chris