Category: News

Reported crimes against the church this week 12/18/2021

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Janet Johnson-Tremblay

This is a list of this week’s reported crimes against Christian congregations and church property in North America. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list.  These are only those that have come to our attention through media reports.

MONDAY, DEC. 13, 2021

A church in Fargo, ND has restored a statue of St. Anthony of Paduca after vandals cut the head off and caused other damage. WZFG reports the damage happened in October . No motive for the criminal act is known.

A man charged with stalking and killing a pastor in an East Texas church has been found incompetent to stand trial. Police say Mytrez Woolen hid inside the Starrville Methodist Church last year and shot the pastor when he was found. KTEK.com reports his case is on hold while he receives “restorative” care. 

TUESDAY, DEC. 14, 2021

Police in Charleston, South Carolina say a vandal or vandals smashed out stained glass windows of the Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church.  News 2 reports large bricks and rocks were used to carry out the criminal act. The church posted a video on Facebook showing some of the damage.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 15, 2021

A Pensacola, Florida man investigators believe is responsible for a string of church vandalism was involved in a shootout with sheriff’s deputies on Dec. 7. The Pensacola News Journal reports Sean Thomas Michaels was confronted by deputies after a tip came in that he had caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to a total of six churches when he raised a rifle and pointed it at the deputies. He was shot in the leg and deputies took him into custody.

THURSDAY, DEC 15, 2021

Police in Charleston, West Virginia are working to identify the person who threw bricks through two stained-glass windows at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church.  The Post and Courier reports the vandal was caught on video and the crime is being investigated as a hate crime.

FRIDAY, DEC 16, 2021

On Dec 15 a man and woman broke into St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beaumont, Texas.  Police say burglary appears to be the motive for the crime.  Cash and credit cards were taken and used at local stores.

Police in Seattle are investigating arson and vandalism at the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church.  West Seattle News reports the fire did not have time to spread before it spread.  No arrests have been made.

Happenings in Southern Gospel this week 12/18/2021

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JEFF TURNER

Jonathan Wilburn, half of Wilburn and Wilburn and former lead singer for Gold City (around 1996,) recently announced he will pursue a solo career.

11th Hour is holding its Christmas Concert Sunday, Dec. 19 at OKC Bethesda Church in Oklahoma.

The Hoppers are preparing for “Gospel Music Nights” Saturday, Jan. 22 in Taylors, SC.

Karen Peck and New River is officially on “Christmas Break.”  The group last week finished a new album.  Listen for cuts from the new project in 2022 on Texas Gospel!

Gold City has added a new concert to the 2022 schedule: February 11 at Harvest Church in South Carolina.

The Mark Trammell Quartet is set to appear at the Manley Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee on Dec. 31 for “The Big New Year’s Eve Gospel Music Hymn Sing.”

The Rochesters are celebrating 66 years of Gospel music this week

11th Hour’s Chandler Padgett got Married Saturday!  We wish well for Chandler and his new bride Riley.

Landry Thomas Erwin, son of Keith and Lindsey Erwin, celebrated his first birthday this week.

Greater Vision has some good news for folks who love music in Vinyl… well, sort of.  This week they announced they had 500 vinyl editions of the group’s “The Journey” project pressed.  They made the announcement Tuesday morning.  By 6:30 that evening they had sold out.  No word if they plan another vinyl release.

Texas Gospel Canada is saddened to learn of the passing of James Easter.

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DAVID INGRAM

James Easter, a long-established name in Bluegrass Gospel Music, has passed away.

James was a Gospel musician, writer and minister.  He was a founding member of The Easter Brothers along with his brothers Russell and Edd. For more than six decades they sang Gospel music and recorded at least 22 albums. (Note: We’re confident The Easter Brothers recorded more, this accounting includes the ones in our Gospel music library.)

James was the father of Jeff Easter of Jeff and Sheri Easter.  Jeff announced his father’s passing on Facebook with a brief post saying, “A tired and weary soldier has fought the battle true, he now lays down his weapon, his fighting is all through.” Daddy is now resting in the arms of Jesus. Thank you for all of your prayers for our family.”

James’ death comes just under three years since the passing of Edd Easter, and a little more than a year since the passing of the elder Easter Brother Russell.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Reported acts of aggression against Christian congregations this week

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STAFF

This is a list of this week’s reported crimes against Christian congregations and church property in North America. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list.  These are only those that have come to our attention through media reports.

MONDAY, DEC. 6, 2021

Red Deer, Alberta RCMP are asking for help identifying two people who vandalized a Church of the Nazarene building. Canada Police Report published photos of the suspects. The men are accused of writing offensive graffiti on church property.

Police in Portland, Oregon are looking for a woman they believe vandalized the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Colorado.  An Associated Press article published in the New Canaan Advertiser says swastikas and other hateful messages were painted on the church building. A photos of the damage were published by the Denver Post and The Post Millennial.

Police in Pennsylvania are investigating vandalism that included Satanic imagery left at Lititz Church or the Brethren. Lancaster Online reports the graffiti was discovered on Saturday.

TUESDAY, DEC 7, 2021

Police in Florida have arrested a man accused of vandalizing the building of Olive Baptist Church.  WEAR TV reports tips to police lead officers to Sean Michaels, 31. He’s charged with felony criminal mischief and two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. 

A statue at Our Lady of Fatima church in Washington, D.C. was vandalized last weekend. ABC 7 reports a cross was cut loose, and the nose of the statue was broken off.  Police have not determined a motive for the crime. The News Observer posted a surveillance photo of the vandal.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 8, 2021

Thieves have stolen part of a fence installed around a church to protect from those who made arson threats.  Two Row Times reports someone cut off part of the expensive barrier around the Mohawk Chapel in Ontario.

Vandals in the State of New York used large rocks to smash glass doors at Grace Lutheran Church in Forest Hills. The Forest Hills Post reports police are investigating the crime as simple vandalism and not a hate crime.

THURSDAY, DEC. 9, 2021

New Brunswick investigators have not determined the cause of a fire that destroyed a more than 100-year-old church.  A photo of the destroyed Saint TimothĂ©e Catholic church was published by CBC.

FRIDAY, DEC 10, 2021

A Cap-PelĂ© man, 26, if facing an arson charge following a NB church fire.  According to a RCMP news release, the suspect was arrested following a fire at the Saint-TimothĂ©e church. A motive is not yet known. The arrested individual is set to appear in court on Jan. 10, 2021.

A woman wanted in connection with vandalism at a Colorado church was arrested in Portland.  Fox 12 in Oregon reports Portland police arrested Madeline Cramer Thursday for vandalism at the Cathedral Basilica in Denver.

James Easter taken to ICU with COVID-19

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David Ingram

James Easter of the Easter Brothers has been admitted to the ICU as he battles COVID-19 according to a statement released Tuesday by Daywind Records.

James is the father of Jeff Easter of Jeff and Sheri Easter. A post on their facebook page says, “Yesterday, they admitted our daddy, James, to the hospital because he tested positive for Covid. This morning, they are moving him to ICU so that he can get the best possible care. Through the years, we’ve witnessed thousands of benefits from collective prayer and we are asking this morning that you would join us in praying for him, for his healing, for his nurses’/doctors’ wisdom, for peace and strength. —Jeff and family”

An update from Jeff and Sheri says James’ wife Denise has also tested positive for COVID-19.

No other information has been released. Texas Gospel Canada will update this story as we learn more.