The church is two miles away from another church that is also experiencing the same vandalism. The last incidents at both churches happened minutes apart.
SAN ANTONIO — Church leaders with Bethany Primitive Baptist Church say they have had several incidents since the Spring, but in the past two months, the vandalism has picked up.
“Almost every week there’s been some kind of of an action,” said Joseph Weyel, Elder, Bethany Primitive Baptist Church.
Weyel says their church located on Babcock Road, near UTSA Blvd., has been targeted by a man driving to the church and throwing rocks at the windows, shattering them.
“Those incidents started in the Spring, maybe March or April. We had incidents in May, June, July, August, October and most recently November and December,” said Weyel.
Last week we spoke with Pastor Nathan Hornfeld, with Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church, which is two miles away. Grace OPC has also been vandalized by a man breaking windows, and recently they have also seen an increase in the vandalism.
Bethany Primitive Baptist Church has experienced five broken windows in the past two months, with the last incident taking place minutes after the vandalism at Grace OPC.
“It seems like it’s the same individual,” said Weyel.
Weyel says the vandalism has come at a cost to the church.
“The total of those damages, just in replacing the glass alone has exceeded $3,500, which for a small congregation is quite impactful here,” said Weyel.
Apart from the financial burden, Weyel says the vandalism is also causing some concern from the congregation.
“We’ve always felt that we were in a in a neighborhood that was calm and somewhat secure, and just having that sense of fear associated with wondering who’s doing it, and why,” said Weyel.
Weyel says that they are working with San Antonio police to find the man responsible for the damages, and the recent installation of security camera’s has allowed them to capture images of the suspect.
Weyel says finding the person responsible would be a relief to everyone involved.
“Our heart is to pray for him, that he would experience some repentance for that, and understand what he’s doing. People ought to be able to to find a place of worship, to be a place of safety and of of comfort and of peace, and anything that disrupts that knowingly is something that that needs to be dealt with,” said Weyel
If you recognize the man in the images, you’re urged to contact SAPD’s Property Crimes Taskforce at 210-207-8326.