Tag: Persecution

Bomb explodes on property of Texas church

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

BEAUMONT, TEXAS – A building owned by a southeast Texas church that runs a Christian school was damaged by an explosion early Thursday morning, according to a report from KRIS TV.  The explosion was caused by a bomb left at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church sometime between the end of services Wednesday evening and early Thursday before children arrived at the nearby school campus according to Click2Houston.

Beaumont, Texas Police Department spokesperson Officer Haley Morrow told Texas Gospel the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the FBI are investigating the incident.  Officer Morrow said

A police department news release says officers were called to the church property around 9 a.m. to investigate Criminal Mischief.  An officer who responded to the call found damage from what appeared to be a previously-detonated package.  Only minor damage was done to the building.

The Beaumont police chief said during a news conference that parts of the investigation are confidential and he would not say if there is any connection to an explosive device found at a local business earlier this year.

Man arrested for causing more than $20,000 damage to Church sanctuary

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment
2018-05-07 Mug shot with background of church vandal
James Williams (Photo: Tulsa County Inmate Information Center)

A Tulsa, Oklahoma congregation arrived for service April 29 to a sanctuary with thousands of dollars in damage caused by a vandal.  The cleanup is ongoing this week.

Police say the man who caused the damage, James Williams, was found by a K9 during a search of the Community Baptist Church sanctuary, according to a report by Fox 23 News. The TV station’s report includes photos of the damage.

A police report says Williams gained entry by breaking a window.  The police report estimates damage between $20,000 and $40,000.

Jail records on May 7 show Williams is held on $3,000 bond for burglary and one charge of maliciously defacing property of another for which no bond amount is listed.

The police report does not state a motive for Williams’ actions.

Teen arrested for arson at Pennsylvania church building

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment
Arson
(Image: Pixabay.com)

According to a report from WFMJ, a 16-year-old admitted setting a fire on the porch of the Clark Trinity United Methodist church last month.  Hermitage police Chief Eric Jewell would not say if the teen arrested was male or female, according to the Sharon Herald.

Damage to the church building was estimated at $13,000, according to Texas Gospel file stories.

The teen charged faces one count of second degree felony arson.

Arsonist strikes Michigan church

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

The Grand Rapids Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating an apparent arson at a church building in Michigan.  The damage was discovered Sunday morning before church members arrived.

An arson investigator said it appears a fire, which did not spread past the front entrance of Servant’s Community Church, was set intentionally according to Michigan Alive. ABC 13 said arson is suspected because there is no other reason for a door to ignite.

A post to the church’s Facebook page says, “We are saddened by an act of arson last night that caused significant damage to our front doors. Our front doors are a symbol of welcome into God’s love in this lost and broken world. We still stand as a beacon of that love right here on the corner of Watson and Deloney. All are welcome here. We held our regular worship service this morning and look forward to hosting our community meal as normal on Wednesday.”

“I was kind of hurt because this is a family church,” said church member Vern North to Wood TV.  “I couldn’t understand why someone would do this to the church,” he said.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call 616-774-2345 or 616-456-3900.

Vandals cause around $3,000 damage to Texas church building

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment
2018-04-24 Damage to church statue
(Statue damaged by vandals in Edinburg, Texas. Photo A. Rios)

Police in Edinburg, Texas are investigating the destruction of Catholic Church property.  Vandals damaged a statue of Jesus, broke a stained glass window and damaged the front entrance. The criminal act was discovered Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, according to a report from the Brownsville Herald.

This is not the first time vandals targeted the church’s statue. The pastor, Father Gregory Labus, told KRGV TV, “Several years ago, one of the fingers of the statue was broken off, that was before my time.”

Assistant Police Chief Orlando Garcia said the vandal or vandals did around 3,000 in damage. Anyone with information is asked to call the Edinburg Police Department at 956-383-7411 or the Edinburg Crime Stoppers at 956-383-8477.