In Orangeburg County, investigators are trying to find out who's been vandalizing a local church. It's happened several times over the years, leaving the community shocked and seeking answers.
"I would like to see jail time and restitution done," said church member Phillip Bass.
Bass has been a member of Wesley Grove United Methodist Church for 46-years. He says enough is enough.
"They also set off fireworks on one of our side porches, and burnt the floor and the vinyl siding on the side of the church," said Bass. "And if it could have been more fireworks, then maybe the church would have caught on fire and burnt; and we would have been without a church."
On Saturday the meditation garden was targeted again. An angel statue, that was dedicated in memory of a deceased member, was damaged. Bass thinks this attack is more than teens behaving badly.
"I think it may be gang-related because they took two parts of the angel instead of just leaving it after they broke it," said Bass.
Last summer the church was egged, and the front sign was stolen. That's when Bass says he tried to reach out to the people responsible, with no success.
"I invited them to church and they gave me the Hawaiian peace sign, which most people know is the bird," said Bass. "We'll sit down and discuss restitution. And we'll invite them into our church."
Despite the attacks and the frustration at this 125-year-old church, members like Bass say there's always room for forgiveness. The damage estimates from the most recent vandalism is $600.
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