| A brother and sister from Kenya faced dire circumstances. The illegal immigrants were homeless. Both suffered from malaria, tuberculosis, and other serious medical conditions. In their desperation they turned to churches throughout the Midwest for help. And churches responded. Except their story wasn't true. The two were actually married, and they used their scheme to raise about $1.1 million during a four-year span to fund a gambling habit and two apartments. Churches must remain committed to serving people in need. Church leaders also must fulfill their fiduciary duties by vigilantly safeguarding finite resources, as the congregations in this situation learned. Now is a smart time to assess your church's benevolence efforts, and our downloadable training resource, Benevolence Fund Basics, can get you started. As fall approaches, and as the pandemic creates more hardship, many will need assistance to procure shelter, food, water, and transportation. It's crucial for leaders to know how to discern true needs and effectively respond. Also this week: In a newly posted Legal Development, attorney Richard Hammar explains how a pastor’s improper use of funds can create criminal liability. A church hiring consultant explains the importance of reference and background checks. Our friends at State of the Plate want to better understand the financial challenges your church has faced because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By participating in their survey, you’ll receive access to the results and free resources for the “Bless Your Pastor” program. The Lord bless you and keep you, | 