by Mary Lou Walters
The 658 and 279 vandalism has moved to breaking and entering and desecration of church property. Graffiti of 658, other numbers, the letters TB and Nazi and Satanic symbols were found painted in the cellar and outside south wall of Landmark Baptist Church this Friday. Whoever did this gained entrance into the cellar by removing a door which had been screwed shut. State Police investigators are looking into the matter.
Although the whole Church family is saddened by these acts, the youth are especially affected because they had spent a lot of time converting the cellar to a useable area for the kids. Some of the art work they did was painted over.
Their frog picture (standing for “Fully Relying On God”) was marred with a 658. Pastor Scott Matson said, “It saddens me to see the lack of respect for God’s house. I see young people crying out for help. They came to the right place but just used the wrong approach. To them I say, ‘Youth group is at 6:30 Friday nights. Please come and I will personally open the door!’ This is Holy Ground!”
The whole church family is praying for the vandals and for a quick resolution of this sad event.