HACK ATTACK!!! RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!! Or at least that’s how I felt when I received a call from Doug Johnson last Friday that not all was well on the Kinship Christian Radio Facebook page.
Further investigation led to the realization that my own personal Facebook had been taken over, and from there the hacker deleted all the other Kinship radio staff from our radio page. Then for a couple of days sought to turn it into their own propaganda site.
You may have noticed that our profile picture, instead of the image of a cross and dove, became the face of a young man with a see through Algerian flag flying in front of it. Our cover photo was changed, and at least once a disturbing picture of violence was posted, with arabic writing underneath the post.
It made for a stressful couple of days, not wanting anything worse to be posted in a place that should be a safe place for our wonderful Kinship family to gather, and a place where we seek to digitally glorify God.
Why the sudden attention to our page? It would appear that it was in direct relation to all of our posts on Israel, during Beth Crosby’s trip to the Holy Land the last couple of weeks. The hacker didn’t delete everything, in fact most of our old posts were still left, but ALL the posts and pictures related to Israel were taken down.
It was a sudden reminder, way back in Minnesota, of the hatred that is felt so strongly towards God’s people. That just simply posting and mentioning Israel a lot, could garner the attention of a hacker.
I was strangely encouraged by this hack though. A feeling that seemed to say, “Hey, if we’re getting attention like this, we must be doing something right!”
Matthew 5 10 came to mind
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Yesterday we did gain control of our page once more, and it is now a safe place again for our Kinship Family, I even figured out how the hacker took over my account (It had to do with old email addresses, and I will not be making that mistake again)
God Bless our wonderful secretary Beth Erdman, who posted this verse, as soon as we had control again.
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.” -Isaiah 54:17
Perhaps, all the drama seems unwarranted. It was just our Facebook page after all. It wasn’t our actual website at Kinshipradio.org, it wasn’t someone’s bank account, know one was hurt in the process.
But I do think it serves as a reminder, that there are those that wish nothing more than to stop the proclamation of God, and as Christians it’s a reminder that we will encounter attacks.
Digitally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
But, we continue on in the path God has laid for us. Wrapping ourselves in His armor, never ceasing to shine the light of the Gospel, the message of Grace, love, and forgiveness, found only in His son, Jesus Christ.