FREDERICKTOWN — Churches serve as a haven when the world becomes overwhelming. The congregation of Christ the King Community Church is dealing with uncertainty after a vandal caused extensive damage to their building during Resurrection week. While the tomb on Resurrection Day was empty, people were found inside the resilient Fredericktown church.
According to Pastor Lucian Baker, surveillance cameras showed the perpetrator arrived around two o’clock Wednesday morning and was on the grounds for six to seven hours damaging windows, floor tile and furniture.
“He (the vandal) was sitting out there; he was agitated,” Pastor Baker said. “He threw one brick through the main door of the church and shattered the glass. He waited a little while, then picked up another brick and threw it through the window.”
Vandalizing religious property is a federal crime and can be punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.
Pastor Lucian Baker said a group of parishioners worked hard to paint to repair the church off of Ohio 95 for Easter. Damage includes the door, several windows, the interior tile floor, several pieces of furniture, and a communion table. Several tables have glass embedded in their top. Estimated repair costs are $12,000 to $15,000.
(Submitted photo)
Baker acknowledged that other houses of worship have experienced much greater catastrophes but noted there is still a sense of violation from the vandalism.
“The church is a safe place, and all of a sudden, we see windows busted out, doors busted out. The first thing that comes to mind is ‘is my safe place no longer safe,’” he said. “I think it’s important that no matter what happens, we will still have church.”
Congregants of the church have been under the protection of an armed volunteer security force, which was formed about seven years ago.
Baker believes it is essential to continue with church services, When the COVID-19 first arrived, the church initially shut down in compliance with recommended protocols.
“Then we realized that was not a wise decision because people needed a place to go to worship,” he said. “People needed to know that no matter what happens, the church will go on.
“The church provides a certain amount of stability, a foundation you can stand on,” he continued. “If the church burns down, the church will still be there. People shouldn’t put all of their hope in the place, just know that the church is going on no matter what.”
“The church is a safe place, and all of a sudden, we see windows busted out, doors busted out. The first thing that comes to mind is ‘is my safe place no longer safe.’ I think it’s important that no matter what happens, we will still have church.”
Pastor Lucian Baker, Christ the King Community Church
“When things like this happen, and the church closes, I think it’s a time when people have a feeling that the darkness is winning. But when the church is open, that light is not diminished,” he said. “And we are going to do that. We are going to stay open and not let that light diminish.”
Baker said that, if nothing else, the vandalism incident proves the need to pray for one another and for the man who committed the vandalism. “I don’t know why he was so angry, but we need to be more understanding, more compassionate, and more available.”
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The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in John 15, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
