SEATTLE — A long-planned picnic at Steele Lake was supposed to be a refuge from the problems of urban life, but the congregation of Mt. Calvary Christian Center couldn't escape the fact that someone shattered the door to their church -- at 23rd and Union in Central Seattle -- overnight.
“Why would you vandalize the church?" asked Rev. Reggie Witherspoon, Mt. Calvary's pastor. "We're the good guys. We are the positive force in the community. I help people. I help change lives."
Last fall, Pastor Witherspoon led a very public, very vocal, but fruitless fight against Uncle Ike's Pot shop moving in next door to the church he has led for more than 20 years.
Two years ago, vandals spray-painted the exterior of the church, forcing church leaders to quickly cover up whatever message the vandals were sending.
This latest act, says Witherspoon, may be the work of customers of the pot shop next door or the liquor store across the street.
"People are really doing drugs a lot these days," he said. "We don't rule that out. But I also am not sure it was not hate related. But we're going to be very careful and cautious."
That need for caution has been made more urgent, he says, because tomorrow is the first Sunday after the deadly church shooting in South Carolina.
"In our church, you know, we have to be prepared," Witherspoon said. "I never thought you would say this that you have to have security guards who are prepared for whatever in your church. But that's the day in which we live in."
In fact, he says they will have more guards and they will be visible.
He also received a call from Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole, offering the police department's full support.
Anyone with information is urged to call Seattle Police.
KIRO
