Episode 292 - Risk Management in Christian Missions Part 2

In this multi-part series, Jon will be sharing best practices from GRC (Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance) for how to handle risk in the work of Christian Missions. Ministry and life is filled with risks and rewards, and this training will give you specifics on how to think and serve through it all. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/TKsJUTJP1r8

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 1, 2026 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! We’re diving into the latest updates you need to know including Türkiye's latest control over social media, major telecom network exploitation, WhatsApp updates and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Turkey to Ban Anonymous VPNs and Mandate Social Media ID Checks The Turkish government is planning to ban anonymous VPN services and require all social media users to verify their identities using national ID numbers. These measures aim to eliminate online anonymity, allowing authorities to monitor digital activity and link every social media post to a specific person. For Mission Teams Mandatory identity checks and VPN bans create severe security risks for digital evangelists and seekers by making all online interactions traceable to real-world identities. All of these potential changes make decrease audience sizes and increase risk local teams may have to face https://reclaimthenet.org/turkey-to-ban-anonymous-vpns https://stockholmcf.org/turkey-proposes-mandatory-identity-checks-for-social-media-raising-press-freedom-concerns/ Covert Surveillance Actors Exploiting Global Telecom Networks Sophisticated surveillance groups are exploiting vulnerabilities in global mobile networks to track people's locations without them knowing. These actors use hidden commands and fake identities to turn mobile phones into tracking beacons that stay active for years. For Mission Teams This invisible tracking poses a major security threat to teams with digital evangelists and seekers who are meeting in high-risk areas. Mission teams must prioritize high-security communication apps that bypass standard mobile network protocols to protect their strategic movements and the safety of new disciples. https://citizenlab.ca/research/uncovering-global-telecom-exploitation-by-covert-surveillance-actors/ Windows Security Protection Failure A new vulnerability has been identified in Microsoft Windows that allows attackers to bypass important security protections. CISA has added this flaw to its list of known exploited vulnerabilities and urges immediate patching. For Mission Teams Attackers could use this flaw to gain deeper access to your computers and steal sensitive ministry data. Ensure all team laptops and Windows devices are updated immediately to prevent unauthorized access to your files. https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/04/28/cisa-adds-two-known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog WhatsApp Support Ending for Older Phones WhatsApp has announced it will stop working on older Android phones running versions 5.0 and 5.1 by September 2026. Users on these devices are already receiving alerts to upgrade their software or hardware to maintain access. For Mission Teams Many seekers in developing regions still use older smartphones and may lose the ability to contact your team via WhatsApp. You should check which devices your local partners use and prepare for a potential shift to other messaging apps in those areas. https://in.mashable.com/tech/109058/whatsapp-support-ending-soon-for-these-older-android-phones-is-your-device-on-the-list Instagram Story Voice-Over Feature Instagram is developing a built-in feature that allows users to record voice-overs directly within the Story builder. This simplifies the process of adding narration to your visual content without using external apps. For Mission Teams Adding a personal voice to your stories can make your ministry feel more authentic and approachable to seekers. This tool allows team members to quickly share a spoken prayer or a short testimony over a photo or video. https://socialbee.com/blog/social-media-news/ Google Video Content Exclusion Settings Google has simplified its campaign settings to allow users to exclude their ads from specific types of video content at the customer level. This ensures that your ads do not appear alongside videos that, while legal, may not align with your ministry's values. For Mission Teams Using these exclusions helps protect your ministry's reputation by keeping your ads away from inappropriate or distracting content. It also ensures your budget is spent on placements that are more likely to reach people in a respectful and open frame of mind. http://ads-developers.googleblog.com/2026/ Meta Transitioning from Dynamic Creative to New Creative Workflow Meta is permanently removing the Dynamic Creative feature and replacing it with a more advanced creative workflow. This new system allows users to upload up to ten media files while providing much better data on how each specific image or video performs. For Mission Teams Members of the Kavanah Media team are already leveraging this new feature. It makes it easier than ever to fully leverage creative diversity without having to use Flexible ad format or building multiple ads per ad set.  https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ads-evolution-important-changes-for-2025/ Google Ads Updates and Trends for 2026 Google has introduced several updates including advanced AI-driven campaign features and more detailed reporting for Performance Max campaigns. These changes focus on automating ad creation while giving marketers better insights into how their budget is being spent. For Mission Teams Improved AI automation helps small mission teams create more effective ads to reach seekers with minimal manual effort. Better reporting tools allow teams to see exactly which audiences are responding to the gospel, ensuring resources are used strategically and securely. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-17-adriaan-dekker-1hwye/ Google Ads Advisor Launches New AI Safety Features Google is enhancing its Ads Advisor tool with three AI-powered features designed to automate security and policy compliance. These updates include proactive troubleshooting for policy violations, continuous account security monitoring, and instant certifications for regulated industries. For Mission Teams These automated tools could help mission teams to more quickly resolve ad rejections and maintain high security for their accounts without constant manual oversight. Proactive monitoring and instant certifications ensure that vital gospel campaigns stay active and protected against unauthorized access or technical roadblocks. https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/ads-advisor-google-ads/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement  Looking for ways to use digital tools to grow evangelism and disciple-making? Check out our other resources: Kavanah Media Blog – Learn from our experiences serving hundreds of mission teams worldwide. We share practical lessons, real stories, and best practices to help your team avoid mistakes and grow in digital outreach. Subscribe here. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." Subscribe here Ad Resource Store- Stumped on what ads to run next? Check out Kavanah Media's Ad Resource Store for ideas, templates and more! Digital Strategies got you stumped? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Church GAP Analysis Tool- Uncover hidden risks before they become problems. Use our Free GAP Analysis Tool to evaluate your church or non-profit’s cybersecurity, compliance, and governance today.  Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: May 1, 2026