Vandals hit North Spokane church

SPOKANE, Wash - Members of the Mountain View Assembly of God church spent Monday morning trying to clean up hate speech and pornographic images, left behind on their church overnight.

Vandals covered the building with swastikas, racist words and phrases and pornographic drawings.

But, instead of dwelling on the damage, Pastor Dan Henshaw and others rolled up their sleeves and began the work to clean it up.

"Someone must have had a lot of bitterness in their lives," said Pastor Henshaw.

Henshaw can't understand why someone would target the church, especially with a daycare inside.

Read more at KXLY.com...

Arrest made in LDS church vandal case

LAYTON — Fingerprints left at a church building vandalized in August led police to the possible suspect on Tuesday.

The windows in a building for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 1410 E. Gentile in Layton, were broken sometime on or before Aug. 21, according to a statement.

Someone had also spray-painted profanity inside the church, said Layton Police Lt. Shawn Horton.

“This was not anti-LDS,” Horton said. “It was not specific, but anti-religion.”

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Church near Tacoma destroyed by suspected arsonist

TACOMA, Wash. -- A 30-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly setting fires to two buildings and a car near Tacoma early Thursday morning, including a church.

The first call to 911 came in around 12:25 a.m. reporting a fire in an abandoned building at 1719 91st Street East.

 About 40 minutes later, a fire was reported at Golgotha Baptist Church in the 8400 of East Portland Avenue. Ten minutes later, a car fire was reported two blocks away.

Read more at komonews.com...

Arson investigation after Methodist church deck catches fire

SAN ANTONIO -- Arson is investigating a fire that happened at a church overnight on the West side. Firefighters rushed to the fire at the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church just before 1 a.m. Saturday. Investigators believe someone set the back deck of the church on fire. Fire crews were quickly able to put the fire out. The church was not damaged.

Watch a video news report at: http://www.news4sanantonio.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/arson-investigating-after-church-deck-catches-fire-3019.shtml

Church Destroyed by 'Attempted Arson' in Baltimore

A church in West Baltimore was nearly destroyed in an attempted arson on Monday night. It was a call Monday night that got Pastor Gregory McCoy out of bed. I got a call at 4 oclock in the morning, he recalled, I got a call stating that the church was on fire. For two years Pastor McCoy and his parishioners have worshiped at True Worship Convent Ministries on Dukeland Street in West Baltimore. But now the place many within the community go to seek peace and guidance, has been destroyed. Police say a car was deliberately set on fire outside the church. McCoy told FOX45, It exploded; it caught to the stairway which leads to the officer and the classrooms.

Read more at foxbaltimore.com...

Nebraska: Fremont Police Arrest Third Arson Suspect

Fremont Police on Wednesday arrested a third person in connection with a string of Aug. 6 arsons.

Detective Aaron Howe said James C. Smith, 22, of Fremont was arrested for second-degree arson and conspiracy to commit second-degree arson. Both charges are Class III felonies.
Police previously arrested Tyler Maple, 21, and Michael J. Schutz, 22, both of Fremont, in connection with the arsons.

“I would say the investigation is complete,” Howe said. “Everybody responsible for those fires is now in jail.”

Police received reports on Aug. 6 of what Chief Jeff Elliott said turned out to be four separate arson cases.

The Fremont Fire Department was called at 5:11 a.m. to the 600 block of North I Street where the Salvation Army bus was on fire near a house. The bus received interior damage, but the house and a nearby garage were not damaged.

Moments later, firefighters answered a second alarm in the 300 block of West 10th Street where a 1997 Dodge Neon was totaled by a fire.

At 6 a.m., firefighters responded to a small shed on fire by First Christian Church.

Read more at Freemont Tribune...

Congregation praising despite church fire; investigated as arson

JASPER COUNTY, SC – Members of the Gospel Lighthouse Church are singing praise after the Jasper County community rallies around them.

Pastor Jackie Chavers, who is known as Pastor Jackie says, “I’ve cried all morning.”

The church’s building burnt to the ground early Tuesday morning in a fire that’s being investigated as arson. But within hours a banquet tent had been offered as a temporary sanctuary. Then two different congregations offered folding chairs.

Pastor Jackie says, “The love of Christ that has come out in the community. The people that have responded with a helping hand…”

Read more at thecoastalsource.com...