April 22, 2024

Despite the lower Spring Rod Run numbers, the FBCPF volunteers had a successful mission fundraiser last week.

We raised $8,170 in donations for parking spaces! Thank you to Kevin W. and the Rod Run team for their dedication to this project. We could not have done it without you!

Thanks to John F. and John W. for the Prayer tent and hotdog stand. This new effort raised $1,783.58! We pray that you were able to reach many who had never heard the Gospel of Christ.

By now, you've heard about FBCPF's 110th Anniversary event scheduled for October 20th. Many times! Please send the link below to a friend or family member who may not be on our mailing list (current and former members). We want to ensure everyone has a chance to attend this special event. 

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Scams and fraud come in all sizes and forms, and churches are no exception. We have received notice of emails going around from "Pastor Terry" asking the recipient to purchase gift cards. These are scams! 

If you have received a suspicious text or email message, please contact any staff member, and we'll verify it for you.

Church staff will never disclose your personal information to outside persons without your express permission or share giving information with anyone. We don't have access to your banking or credit card information. VANCO E-services, our online giving vendor, secures that information. They also have to comply with PCI rules, as do we.

If you get a phone call from someone asking for money or personal banking information, follow these tips from the FCC:

• Never use the word "Yes." If they ask if this is Mrs. So-and-So, respond with "This is she" or "That is correct." Even if they ask again, respond in any way, but "yes."

• Don't trust your caller ID. Scammers can "spoof" phone numbers and names quickly.

• Charity (e.g., church) donations are rarely collected over the phone anymore. The St. Jude's Phone Marathon, for example, accepts donation call-ins. They won't call you.

• Local and federal government offices will not call you to request funds for parking tickets. Instead, report the call to your local sheriff's office.

• Government agencies will never call to verify your Social Security number.

• It's scary to know that today's AI technology can reproduce your loved ones' voices. If someone calls in distress and you can't be sure it's real, tell the "loved one" you will call back in a moment to give them whatever they requested. Hang up and call the number you KNOW is your loved one to check on them. If in doubt, call 911.

• Scammers often insist you pay in a way that makes it hard to get your money back—by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or payment app. Anyone who insists that you can only pay that way is a scammer.

Email scams can contain any of the scenarios listed above. You can check the sender's email by clicking on the staff member's name (usually Pastor Terry's) to see if his address reads pastorterry@fbcpf.org. If it doesn't, delete it. Please don't respond. Proper emails from the church will come from ...@fbcpf.org. No exceptions.

Report phishing emails and texts to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, part of the FTC, and harassing phone calls to the FCC Fraud Group.

If you've made it this far, THANK YOU! This has been a long message, but it's an important one.

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