SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It’s no surprise, said lead pastor of Oak Hills Church Mike Lueken, that this time of year is busy.
“In a couple of weeks, we have a big Christmas event,” Lueken said. “There’ll be a lot of children here from our church, from outside our church.”
For this reason, along with his congregation and the various support groups for AA, the homeless, gambling and others that come to the church, Lueken said they applied for and will receive $150,000 in federal funding aimed at helping curb hate-based crime.
“There’s been things in the media about attacks in churches,” Lueken said. “Truthfully, we have talked at length about not wanting to be driven by fear or any of that sort of thing, but wanting to protect children, wanting to protect the vulnerable, wanting to protect people who are on our campus at all hours.”
The program aids mainly faith-based organizations of any religion.
California organizations will receive the bulk of this year’s funding, over $40 million, going to more than 300 nonprofits.
Lueken said their portion will help with their tight budget, such as updating their door locks.
“A lot of those doors there will be a pad instead of a key,” Lueken said. “And then, security cameras, we have cameras now that are long outdated. When this opportunity, came up, it was a wonderful way for us to say, let’s apply and if we get it, we will be able to do some things that we would not be able to do if it were just left to our budgeting.”
The latest figures from the state show hate-based crimes have declined slightly by 7.1% from 2,120 in 2022 to 1,970 in 2023.
But those numbers don’t give the full picture said the director of the California Civil Rights Department, Kevin Kish.
“Hate crimes are significantly under-reported,” Kish said. “But in terms of those that have been reported to law enforcement, the attorney general’s reports show us that reports have increased, nearly doubled since 2019.”
Hate crimes involving a religious bias increased by 30% in 2023, according to the state.
Kish added that it is why federal and state funds are needed.
“We need to do more to make people feel safe at their places of worship, at their homes and their businesses,” Kish said. “We need to do more to provide services when they are made unsafe.”
And while Lueken said they are very grateful for the financial help, he said through love, education and understanding, just as much, if not more, can be done.
“We exist for the sake of others,” Lueken said. “Our faith teaches us to love God and love neighbor. And that has concrete actual meaning. Those aren’t just slogans.”
Something very important, Lueken said at such a significant time of the year.