The Mitchell Congregational United Church of Christ is once again grappling with the aftermath of a hateful act after discovering fresh graffiti defacing their property—marking the third such incident in recent years.
The news of vandalism broke over the graduation weekend. “I was sickened when I got word and saw the pictures,” said Wendy Figland, a member of the church “My first instinct was to rush over there to protect.”
For the church, the discovery stirred up a painful sense of déjà vu. “We all had pretty much the same reaction—NOT AGAIN!” said Figland. Despite the repetition of such attacks, the congregation quickly mobilized, surveying the damage and confirming no further destruction had occurred and organizing cleanup efforts and reinforcing security measures.
The latest graffiti incident is just the newest in a string of attacks targeting the church, which has included vandalism of their COVID-19 memorial display, destruction of cooling units, and broken windows in their Helping Hand Pantry. Still, the community refuses to let fear or hatred define them.
“Our sense of belonging hasn’t wavered. In fact, it’s stronger, we believe all people are children of God, no matter who they are or where they are on their journey.”
Authorities were contacted immediately following the most recent incident, and an investigation is underway. It appears the church was not the only target—other nearby properties were also defaced. The perpetrator appears to be a white male and wore a hoodie and skull cap on.
Despite the ongoing threats, the church’s message to the perpetrators is rooted in forgiveness and faith. “Our God is a forgiving God. We would like to sit down with those responsible and have a conversation about our differences—hopefully reaching common ground through respect and love.”
The church’s stance is unwavering: they will continue to spread the Gospel, uphold their beliefs, and offer a place of welcome to all—undaunted by acts of hate.
