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Vandals target church
09.11 church vandalism 2
Vandals spraypainted some of the buildings on the grounds of Fellowship Bible Church. Editor’s note: The above picture may be deemed objectionable by some readers. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue

Members of a Springfield church are wondering just who could do such a thing to their buildings.

Vandals struck the Friendship Bible Church, spraypainting obscene pictures and comments on the sides and backs of the church on Old Dixie Highway. Church members discovered what happened Saturday morning.

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and the church members didn’t want to erase the evidence from the walls and sidewalks until deputies were able to take pictures of the graffiti.

One church member, who asked not to be identified for fear the vandals may target him, said the grass was cut Thursday afternoon, so the vandals most likely struck Friday night.

It’s not the first time the church has been a victim. A 24-inch mower was stolen from the church and church members replaced it with a 52-inch mower, only to have that stolen as well.

“The edger, the wire trimmer, they even took the gas cans,” the church member said. “Now they are writing on the church. They were not satisfied with riding and cutting up the yard. This is the first time they did anything other than steal stuff.”

Tire tracks are visible on the lawn of the church, but prints of the tires were difficult to get, the church member said.

The pastor, Robert Quarterman, was at the church Saturday morning while the sound system was being worked on.

He stepped outside, went around the back of the church and discovered what had been done, according to the church member.

“We knew it was somebody doing devilment,” the member said.

The member also said he was worried that the same thing could happen to other churches isolated along country roads.