On January 18, 2026, protesters disrupted worship at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, targeting all present in a confrontation over immigration enforcement. In August 2025, a gunman opened fire during Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, killing two children. These events make clear that houses of worship are vulnerable to both violent attacks and disruptive demonstrations. Scripture warns of such threats and urges watchfulness. Churches must take steps to protect their congregations with practical security measures, not wishful thinking.
It began with a chant. Protesters entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, during worship on January 18, 2026. They shouted slogans and moved through the sanctuary as the congregation gathered for prayer. Their stated target was a pastor who also serves as acting director of the local ICE field office. But their disruption did not stop at the pulpit. It swept through every pew. Children, elderly congregants, and families attending for no other reason than worship were all caught in a political performance. The sanctuary became a stage. The people inside became unwilling participants.
This protest, while nonviolent in the strict sense, was not peaceful. It was a deliberate intrusion, designed to overwhelm. It served as a demonstration that sacred time and space are no longer respected boundaries.
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