The Bethel Baptist Church in North Portland has found itself grappling with repeated acts of vandalism that have escalated to the point of forcing the congregation to seek a temporary new home. Damage from the most recent break-in, during which vandals sprayed the premises with fire extinguishers, has been described as extensive and disheartening by members of this longstanding community place of worship.
"There's no spot that they didn't desecrate," Sheldon Hall, a church member whose son was baptized there, told FOX 8 Live. The vandalism has been a persistent problem for the church, with instances such as windows being broken reportedly about once a week, according to Deacon Mary Brown, as revealed in an interview with KPTV. This latest act led to the cancellation of their Sunday service and uncertainty about when they may reopen.
The small congregation, mostly comprised of elderly members in their 80s, has been left baffled by these attacks. "I don't know who we've irritated," Brown expressed in the same interview with KPTV. The damage from the recent occurrence proved particularly challenging, as four of the church's seven fire extinguishers were used to deface property, leaving chemicals and thick dust across all open surfaces.
Efforts to report the vandalism to the police have been met with complications. According to Brown, calling 311 has resulted in long wait times and unsuccessful online reporting attempts, with the website timing out after 30 minutes. "We’ve been hit enough, and this is serious enough. We need a police report. I need it on record," Brown insisted in an interview with KOIN 6. In response, KOIN 6 reached out to Portland police, who mentioned they weren’t aware of the incident due to the lack of a formal police report.
In light of the ongoing struggle, the church community remains resilient. Brown remains hopeful about the future and is focused on "moving forward." To help mitigate the damages and seek a new temporary location, Hall’s son has initiated a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of the church, as reported by KPTV. Sheldon Hall lamented the situation, stating, "Nobody's place of worship should be treated like this," in an interview with FOX 8 Live. Despite the setbacks, the congregation's enduring bond appears to be unshaken as they navigate these trials together.
