Ron Carpenter Ministries

Ron Carpenter Ministries, also known as Relentless Church, is a religious organization headquartered in the United States. The ministry's core activities revolve around providing religious services, spiritual guidance, and community support through its congregation in South Carolina, where it operates as a large local institution. Its mission is centered on faith-based worship and outreach, serving individuals and families within its regional sphere. While the organization maintains a notable presence in its community, specific details regarding its size, membership figures, or programmatic scope are not provided in available records.

The organization became the subject of a significant cybersecurity incident in April 2023 when its South Carolina-based church, Relentless Church, was targeted by the LockBit ransomware group. LockBit claimed responsibility and alleged the exfiltration of sensitive employee data, including passports and financial documents. The breach was identified by the church's internal IT team, which promptly enlisted a security firm to investigate the attack and secure congregant information. Church leadership communicated that operations continued uninterrupted and voiced confidence in the organization's data protection measures. Cybersecurity analysts observing the case emphasized that such attacks on religious entities are relatively rare, noting that financial motivation typically overrides any ethical reservations among threat actors, despite LockBit's previous criticism for targeting nonprofits. This event underscores a broader trend of cybercriminals increasingly focusing on non-traditional sectors beyond corporate and government networks, potentially viewing institutions like churches as vulnerable due to resource constraints. The incident stands as a documented event in the ministry's recent history, reflecting the pervasive nature of modern cyber threats.