Category: News affecting the Church

Ukrainian congregation in the U.S. targeted by vandals

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DAVID INGRAM

A Ukrainian church in the U.S. is struggling to make repairs after a vandal, or vandals, left thousands of dollars in damage.

St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church was left with broken windows including one that was placed to protect a more than 100-year-old stained glass window. A statement from the church says the broken window did what it was supposed to do, and the stained-glass window was not damaged.

The church will have to pay between $2,000 to $3,000 to cover the insurance deductible, according to a church spokesperson.

At least one arrest has been made according to WTNH television. The station did not report the suspect’s name. Fox 61 television reports some think Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may have motivated the attack.

The criminal act against the church remains under investigation by the New Britain Police Department.

Arrest made in U.S. church vandalism

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DAVID INGRAM

Police in Winfield, Alabama have arrested the person they say caused thousands of dollars in damage to a church building.

Investigators have not yet released the identity of the person charged with vandalizing the Winfield City Family Church. A Church spokesperson said services had to be canceled this weekend because of the damage.

A small fire was set in one of the rooms, but it did not spread. A post on the Church’s Facebook page says the vandal also, “…wrote cursings against God on the walls of the church, flooded the building, broke huge windows, destroyed musical and sound equipment, and did other extensive damage.”

Police have not announced the vandal’s motive.

Missouri congregation targeted by vandals twice in same week

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JEFF TURNER

Springfield, Missouri police have not yet determined who keeps vandalizing the church building of the Acts of Praise – Whole Life Ministry. The congregation this week has had to clean up after two attacks only days apart.

A volunteer, described by the pastor as a “Good Samaritan,” removed graffiti after the latest incident. The Pastor told Ozarksfirst.com they were at a loss of words about the vandalism. Channel 3 television reported that members of the congregation say the attacks may be racially motivated rather than the result of anti-theist bias.

Springfield is a city of around 475,000 located in southwest Missouri.

Police in the U.S. say vandal has targeted churches in the same Colorado community since November

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JEFF TURNER

Police in the U.S. are looking for a man caught on surveillance video who they say is responsible for vandalism at churches in the Lakewood, Colorado area.

Some congregations say their church buildings have targeted by the man multiple times since February, but police in Colorado say the first reports came in February 2021. Congregations who have filed reports include the Self Realization Church, St Paul’s Community Church, Lakewood United Methodist Church, Lakewood First Church, and New Life in Christ Church.

Police have not released a possible motive behind the vandalism.

U.S.: Teen remains in custody following South Carolina church fire

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JEFF TURNER

A minor accused of making a video of himself setting a South Carolina church on fire will remain in juvenile jail pending a competency hearing.

The teen, whose name is not released because of his age, appeared before the York County Family Court Tuesday. He’s accused of causing at least $40,000 damage in May to the Catawba Chapel AME Zion Church. He is charged with second-degree arson, malicious damage to a house of worship, Larceny, and burglary.

The fire was investigated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations and local sheriff’s deputies. Officials have not said what they believe the teen’s motive was for setting the fire.