Friends, I wanted to follow up on the malicious emails and texts you were receiving last weekend and during the first part of this week. I believe we have identified how your contact information was shared. We received a phishing email, impersonating a staff-to-staff contact, sent to a staff email address. Staff email addresses are available on our website and it is not unusual for us to receive phishing attempts through email. In spite of this, we’ve kept our email addresses available on the staff page of the website because we want to show a guest that we are available for questions and connection. This phishing email, impersonating two different staff persons (on two different occasions), asked for a pdf copy of our directory. Believing this to be a legitimate request, one of our staff sent the requested pdf on Thursday, September 17, and again on Monday, September 21. This corresponds to the contacts you were receiving on both Friday, September 18 and Monday, September 21.

We are preparing for the launch of our new directory. We do not yet have contact information compiled in the software program we are using, but we are keeping all the updated information you have given us in a designated group in our database, Shelby Next. The request aligned with this effort and so the requested pdf was sent. The information shared in this pdf: name, email address, cell phone number, and mailing address. Specifically, no birthdates, Social Security numbers, or financial information was shared. We do not keep record of Social Security numbers, except for those on our payroll. If you’d like to know if your name and information was shared in either of these pdf copies of this information, please email me and I will let you know. My email address is at the end of this article.

We are confident that there was no breach of our church database system, Shelby Next. We are confident that the only contacts shared were those who had agreed to participate in our directory. We are confident that our new directory system, Instant Church Directory, was not involved in the incident. We are instituting some safeguards for church staff emails, indicating when an email arrives from outside our domain name. We are also implementing tighter controls on staff communication with each other. We will continue learning from what happened so we can improve our systems and controls.

If you purchased gift cards or sent money because you thought I was asking you to do so, I want you to know that I am grateful for your trust in me and so sorry for the pain this has caused. There is no shame in saying, "I wanted to do what my pastor asked me to do." You wanted to help me help others. Our staff had the same motivation, wanting to help each other, when the information was shared.

All the same, I realize that this mistake has cost us your trust. You’ll think twice when you get an email or a text from me. You’ll wonder if your information is safe when you share it with the church. I’m sad that we’ve lost the most valuable thing you can give us, your trust. This note is an attempt to explain what happened, but not to excuse it. We should be more cautious and we are working to improve.

If you have specific feedback for me, I invite you to email me at cgwartney@fumcstw.org. I’m open to your suggestions, your critique, your disappointment.

May God bless you,
Charla Gwartney

The United Women in Faith will have a fundraising Spaghetti Dinner this Sunday, September 27 in the Social Hall from 11am-1pm. The menu will include spaghetti and meatballs, salad and breadsticks and dessert. Donations will be accepted for the meal.

In addition to the meal, at 9:30am there will be a bake sale and craft sale in the hallway leading to the Social Hall. Items for sale will be our famous hand-painted pumpkins, needle crafts and other handcrafted items. All proceeds from the meal and craft sale will be donated to three local agencies: Our Daily Bread, Wings of Hope and Payne County Youth Services.

For additional information about the dinner, contact Connie Stauter (903) 249-2490.
For information about joining UWF, contact Barbara Stadler (405) 747-6941.

The purpose of United Women in Faith members is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative, supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of mission through participation the global ministries of the church. Membership is open to any person who indicates their desire to belong and to participate in the global mission of the church through UWF.

Help us fill our candy baskets with treats by donating individually wrapped, bagged candy! Donation baskets are located in the FLC and Sanctuary buildings and will be available until the event. And don’t forget to start dreaming up your spookiest, silliest, or most creative trunk decorations as we host a Trunk or Treat for our community on October 31st, 5pm-7pm.

Join us for a church family game night! Dinner and games will be provided, or bring your favorite to share. All ages - all together! See you Friday, October 2, from 5:30pm-7:30pm in the multipurpose room of the FLC.

Parents, you’re invited to Gathering in Grace - a new Tuesday morning fellowship designed for parents who want to grow in Christ together. Join us Tuesdays from 9:30am-11:00am, starting October 6th in FLC Room 104, for meaningful connection and encouragement. Childcare is provided, so come as you are and enjoy a welcoming space to build community and deepen your faith. Bring a friend!

*if you will need childcare during the event, please contact the church office*

Many thanks to those who have already stepped forward with a financial contribution toward the cost of replacing the roof on our sanctuary building. Several have made generous gifts. The amount we will likely need to borrow from our Foundation continues to decrease. It's not too late to jump in and help fund this project.

If you would like to make a financial contribution, you can bring a check to the office with “Sanctuary Roof” written in the memo line. Questions can be directed to our Church Administrator, Daniel Guthrie.

Thank you for your continued dedication, generosity, and prayers as we care for this important part of our church home together.

Hope House wrapped up our September shopping days with gratitude and full hearts. We were able to serve 16 families, and our incredible volunteers showed up with joy, energy, and compassion on both days. Their dedication makes all the difference for the foster families we support!

Volunteers are needed for our Thursday Community Dinner! We are looking for individuals willing to serve just one Thursday a month from 4:30-6:00pm. Help is needed with serving food, hospitality, setup, and cleanup as we continue providing meals and care for our community each week. If you are able to help, please sign up by CLICKING HERE

All youth are invited to sign up for a youth rally on Sunday, October 4, at Church of the Servant in OKC. We’ll leave the church at 4:00pm and return around 8:30pm–9:00pm. Dinner is provided, and the whole event is FREE. Grab a friend, sign up, and come spend the evening connecting, having fun, and growing in faith together!
Sign-up by CLICKING HERE