Moderator: this is not an AP or other news wire photo (at least TinEye didn't reveal a wire photo that looked the same)
Posted on 08/05/2013 3:58:38 PM PDT by markomalley
A member of Schoolfield Church of the Brethren got an unpleasant surprise Saturday when she arrived to find graffiti spray-painted across the back of the building.
Branwen Hall, daughter of the pastor and the children’s director at the church, said her sister went to the church to do some yard work and discovered three symbols, including an upside-down cross, and the Latin words "Ave Satanas," which translate to "Hail Satan," spray-painted in red.
They called the police and reported the vandalism, then got to work trying to remove the red paint, Hall said.
Both Hall and the Rev. Richard Berkley said they were mystified about why their church was targeted.
"It’s nothing we can’t paint over, but I did hate to see it," Berkley said. "I don’t understand their purpose; in this country, you can believe anything you want — you don’t have to deface other peoples’ property to express your religion … I really feel sorry for whoever did this."
Berkley’s family has pastored the church for more than 100 years, since his great-great grandfather, Marion Prather, founded it in 1911.
A lot of The Brethren — who originally came to the United States from Germany in 1708 and settled "back in the mountains," according the Berkley — were recruited by Dan River Inc. to work in the mills.
"Several families moved to Danville when the mills were recruiting," Berkley said. "The structure was actually built by Dan River and we’re still there."
A little graffiti will change nothing, father and daughter said.
"We’ve been through World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam; we’re still standing and we’re still going strong," Hall said. "A can of spray paint is not going to change the way we worship."
Hall said she did want the community to be aware that there were people out there doing this kind of vandalism.
"I want to let people know to watch their stuff," Hall said.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Danville Police Department at (434) 799-5111.
Sgt. J.W. McLaughlin said the incident is under investigation, and if it is determined to meet applicable criteria, the vandals could be charged with committing a hate crime.
Moderator: this is not an AP or other news wire photo (at least TinEye didn't reveal a wire photo that looked the same)
Satan is still around, isn’t he? NO ONE in his right mind would do this, worship Satan or have anything to do with his minions from hell.
They need to look at the pro-abortion activists!
They feel sorry for Satan? Because that's who animated this act.
These weak Christians don't even understand the battle that is raging around them. They just see it as childish pranks. Unbelievable.
This shows that Pro-Abortionists and gay activists worship Satan. Drug culture and “santarina” gang cult also bow to the Prince of Darkness. How long before we find human sacrafice?
Wendy Davis (D-TX) should be the prime suspect
heh
Looks like the Democrat National Committee is stepping up its church-outreach program.
We saw this story last night on our local news (we're about 70 miles north of Danville). I remarked then on the apparent naivete of the folks who spoke on camera. How can Christians be shocked at this sort of thing? Don't they understand the nature of evil?
I caught some punjks doing the same thing to a Church of Christ in Waslila Alaska last week. They used pink spray paint, wrote “hail satan” and a bunch of vile homosexual crap too. I reported it to my local papers and not a word. Should have gone to drudge with it.
The timing doesn't surprise me in the least. Look for a lot more around October 31.
Also take a look at wannabe Black Block teenagers/anarchist/socialist.
I’m going to assume the minister feels sorry for whomever committed the vandalism precisely because he recognizes that the person(s) is/are controlled by Satan. He might even be praying for the vandal(s) that they might be freed of satanic control. How would that makes him a “weak Christian?”
Satan is a little runt before Jesus. Keep believing, and even pray that God would bless whoever did this, out of their sin.
‘Dude, the minister understands the gospel better than you do.
God, not Satan, is the major force here. It’s only our permission that lets Satan get the foothold he does... and it’s by blessing not cursing (people) that Satan gets flushed out of the wound, so to speak.
If God doesn’t seem to act that way... we didn’t take God at His word. God will not do gratuitous magic tricks to satisfy those who want to put Him in a box.
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