The Mitchell Congregational Church of Christ, known for its acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, has faced multiple incidents of vandalism.
The first incident occurred last summer when the air conditioning system was sabotaged. In May, unidentified individuals spray-painted a verse from Leviticus condemning homosexuality on the church’s exterior.
Recently, rocks were thrown through the windows of the room where the Helping Hand Food Pantry operates.
Despite these attacks, Reverend Matthew Richards and the congregation remain resilient and supported by the community, which has shown solidarity through acts such as covering the graffiti with sidewalk chalk.
The church, which has maintained an open policy since the 1960s, has increased security measures.
The Mitchell Police Department has yet to identify any suspects, relying only on eyewitness testimonies.