'We prayed for them': Seattle church hit with gang graffiti
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SEATTLE - A Central District church was just one of several buildings defaced with graffiti Saturday night or early Sunday.
People in the area say the messages don't appear to be malicious, but it has some on the community on edge.
At least four buildings were spray-painted in one block. It appears the vandals used the same message at each location.
"It was startling. It was kind of like, 'Oh, what is that?'" says Pavi Givens, pastor's assistant at Mount Cavalry Christian Center.
That was her reaction Sunday morning when she arrived and saw a message spray-painted across the church.
"Once I was able to make out it wasn't a threat, and it wasn't anything profane, then it was like - OK, at least it wasn't something contrary to faith and it wasn't saying something threatening," says Givens.
Across the street, the church's teen center was also tagged. Restaurant Med Mix, on the same block, had writing across the building and windows.
Seattle police say the graffiti appears to be gang-related. Officers took photos then forwarded the information to gang detectives.
In the meantime, business owners are left cleaning up the vandalism - and hope it doesn't happen again.
Says Givens: "We prayed for them, and we prayed that they would have the appropriate place to express their art, because it's not the walls of the church or other people's property."
People in the area say the messages don't appear to be malicious, but it has some on the community on edge.
At least four buildings were spray-painted in one block. It appears the vandals used the same message at each location.
"It was startling. It was kind of like, 'Oh, what is that?'" says Pavi Givens, pastor's assistant at Mount Cavalry Christian Center.
That was her reaction Sunday morning when she arrived and saw a message spray-painted across the church.
"Once I was able to make out it wasn't a threat, and it wasn't anything profane, then it was like - OK, at least it wasn't something contrary to faith and it wasn't saying something threatening," says Givens.
Across the street, the church's teen center was also tagged. Restaurant Med Mix, on the same block, had writing across the building and windows.
Seattle police say the graffiti appears to be gang-related. Officers took photos then forwarded the information to gang detectives.
In the meantime, business owners are left cleaning up the vandalism - and hope it doesn't happen again.
Says Givens: "We prayed for them, and we prayed that they would have the appropriate place to express their art, because it's not the walls of the church or other people's property."
God would not want any kind of harm toward anybody so just suck it up and repaint the church isn't that what the money box is for when passed around.
SPD do something against offenders maybe they will get the message. Lil Bastards.
Y'all pray to your god, and I'll pray to Joe Pesci. We'll see which one deals best with the little hoodlums.
Yes, pray for the maggots.
Pray that their punk butts end up in prison . . soon.
Don't think any number of Hale Mary's is going to save these locusts... defacing a church is beyond an ultimate of all taboo's... I don't practice any particular faith personally but sheesh - there are people who do and such buildings should never be seeing this sort of thing - I am glad the news did not say what the message was as the morons who did it likely are looking for pictures of their garbage on the news today... so don't give it to them KOMO!
Graffiti is news worthy now? After all these years, the media has finally discovered graffiti. Time to ban spray cans I guess.
Maybe instead of praying for them, they should create after school enrichment programs to help keep latchkey kids off the street?
People have no respect for the house of God. No wonder this country is going down the drain.
 @Vince Yeah the great big boogie man in the sky is losing his clout.Â
 @lakeview  @Vince Always with the disrespect, sad truly sad.
Not surprising. These bastards will vandalize anything!
Graffiti is NOT newsworthy.
 @Chris Hey man, this is to a church. There are kids in there and it's a sacred place... because it was for a church, I'd definitely say it IS newsworthy. That's sad that stupid thugs would stoop that low to vandalize their own community place, where I'm sure many of them or their friends go to salvage the only positive thing in their life- god. Many G's are happy with god, surprising to see such a sacred and beautiful place experience this kind of disrespect.
Yes, it seems the news media are our own worst enemy at times via sensationalism which to some degree is a form of advertisement and, yet, it is their duty to report the news, such as it is these days. I remember being forced to take part in a shame news story about fighting wildfires in California back in the 1970s when we had to start a fire to show how bravely we were at fighting a fake fire. Long story. But speaking of advertisement, the KOMO news and other news websites are getting so over loaded with flashy ads that are scanned by Norton for malware that even Firefox locks up and a hard boot is required to clear the system, i.e, this one took forever to load because of the ads. And I have a very powerful computer. Perhaps I need to start reading the news from . . . . newspapers?
Frankly, I hope that more churches in the CD and Rainier Valley are victimized by the crime that emanates from their own "flocks." Maybe then these church "leaders" will ease up on their stance on the SPD and let them all focus on the real trouble.Â
 @bagsofdirt I love the nice and friendly people of Seattle. Every one is so wonderful. Well we know who wrote the graffiti.
 @bagsofdirt Watch what you say in today's open forums. I could take your rant not only as hate speech, but also a threat....... hello, 911?
@komoispropaganda @bagsofdirt Hate speech? Please explain. You need an education in law.
@komoispropaganda "hate speech!?" Don't be daft. It' is what it is...but it's not hate speech.
 @bagsofdirt "Frankly, I hope that more churches in the CD and Rainier Valley are victimized".
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Yeah, I can tell your statement is just full of tolerance and love.
The only reason this is a so-called news story is because it happened to a church, really? Come on, places get tagged/vandalized daily to small/big businesses alike. Been happening forever and will continue forever (or at least until there is an HD camera with a viewpoint of everything going on everywhere at all times)! This has absolutely nothing to do with "god" at all and now these punks will see this on the news and think its cool that they "made the news" they will probably just do it more.
I bet the Devil made them do it.
@rallenjr Or Lil' Wayne...
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@keepthepeace28....I thought it was funny
 @keepthepeace28 You don't live up to your user name much, do you? Relax and have a cookie.
@keepthepeace28
A little sarcasm and you result to name calling? Come on now, let's be real, if graffiti is the worst thing that has happened on Sunday in the Seattle area then all is good. At least they are not mourning another homicide or covering up some altar boy getting raped inside the church. I would guarantee that any church would much rather clean up some punk kids graffiti then have to deal with much more tragic events that could have taken place instead.
 @keepthepeace28 No most of them are not. Some yes, but not most. Plus rappers were cooler when they were real gangsters. The music was also better back in the day.
Seriously.... you messin' with God? Good luck with that...
I remember back in the day when "leaving your mark" was peeing on a tree in the woods. Looking at the people who will be running my "twilight years" scares the living crap out of me. No respect for themselves, their elders, their history, or their future. They disrespect everyone and everything, and wonder why they get no "props." Hey punks....you EARN respect in this world. It's not GIVEN to you. If you're artistic? Try a CANVAS, not the side of someone's place of worship or business. Who knows, if you're GOOD enough, your art might make you rich. Keep defiling other people's property however, and your art might make you dead. THINK.
Oh come on now, tagging has been going on as long as man kind has had the capability to do so. Go to Pompeys Pillar and you can see where William Clark carved his name into the sandstone in 1806 and now it is a national monument. http://www.pompeyspillar.org/about.html
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Kids today aren't any worse than kids of any other generation; there is only two main differences, 1) more media and 2) your older.
@Justaguy and better, more abundant weapons...
 @Justaguy There is only one way to describe your comment. Pure horse manure.
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Pics or it didn't happen
@Joey Valentine LOL...
And no one saw any of this happening while driving past or anything?Â
It's not funny that the church was defaced, but it is FUNNY that these grafitti fools don't realize that Christ is Lord of
ALL - even them! And one day He will be coming to put down ALL other authority and rule and set up HIS kingdom
on earth, and His way WILL prevail!. All this other stuff is like swatting away flies! Their foot will slip in due time!
@Somewhere These wastebags think Kobe Bryant and Ludacris are lord, fer cryin' out loud...
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Easy, there, "DELETED"
 @keepthepeace28  @Throbbinhood  @Somewhere Here we go another tolerant liberal. As long as we think like you we are great but as soon as someone has a different opinion you toss out words like moron and hate monger. Grow up.
 @Somewhere Amen !!
 @Gaikokujin Amen too.
 @Somewhere hmmmm
@Somewhere I'd be willing to bet that these "grafitti fools" are not the only ones that don't realize that "Christ is Lord of ALL". Please refrain from bible thumping in here.
@dylandawgie The Christian bashing is ok though, I noticed you didn't take offense to that.
 @dylandawgie  @Somewhere So it's alright to voice pro-gay opinions on this forum, but it's not kosher to write opinions based on one's faith? Seems like a double standard to me....
 @dylandawgie  @Somewhere Seriously, he/he can say anything they want last time I looked this is a country with free speech. You do not like hearing about God then ignore the comments but I bet if someone told you not to state what you believe you would be up in arms. You can either choose to believe or not.
 @dylandawgie  I AM feel free to" Bible thump" any and everywhere! ;-) ;-)
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CHRIST IS LORD OF ALL!!!
 @Gaikokujin God is only a way to help keep peace. He is a made up person to help keep the weak from doing stupid things. To make people supposedly fear hell.
 @SEC Rules  @Somewhere Nope he speaks to His followers and makes Himself known to people all the time
 @Papio  @Gaikokujin  @Papio  @Somewhere  @dylandawgie You can believe what you want but why do you feel the need to attack what others believe? I bet you are all for free speech as long as it is what you think is true as soon as someone has a different opinion you have to attack them. Liberals are the most hateful people on the planet as long as we toe your line everything is fine but as soon as we think something else everyone is a hatemonger and should leave the country. You do not have to believe in God that is your choice but I can say 100% if you asked the founding fathers if they approve of how you treat our rights they would be ashamed of you.
 @dylandawgie  @Gaikokujin  @Papio ah look, don't like the Truth so you respond with childish comments
 @SEC Rules  @Somewhere well then won't you be surpised one day, but I hope not for He loves you, did before you were even born, was willing to die for you and wants a relationship with you.
 @Papio  @dylandawgie  @Gaikokujin He isn't setting "tests" for you, you seem to be doing that for yourself.Â
 @Papio  @Gaikokujin  @Papio  @Somewhere  @dylandawgie no you have until you are dead and step into eternity for true repentance. God loves you still, even with everything that we have all done, He loves us and wants us brought to Him.
 @PrairieDawn Well true repentance can be done either a) right up to before they die, because after that a person steps beyond time and into eternity or b) before Yeshua comes again.
 @PrairieDawn  @Gaikokujin They can repent in the 11th hour.
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True, but they probably won't
 @PrairieDawn  @Gaikokujin True, but they most likely won't.
 @Gaikokujin   @Somewhere God is only a figment of your imagination!
 @Papio No one is trying to make you believe in any deity. It's your own hateful posts that brings on the comments. No one has bended your arm, nor held a gun to your head. Myself, I believe what I want, and you spit hate. Even if you have no religious beliefs, why would you continue to batter yourself by being intolerant to your fellow man.
@Harley-H.S.C. @dylandawgie @Gaikokujin You say "live your life like there is no God" as if it's a bad thing. It's the best ever. No sky being looking over my shoulder, setting tests for me, trying to get me to praise him, living for his promises of an eternity in heaven telling him how great he is.
@Gaikokujin @Papio @Somewhere @dylandawgie No I won't be kneeling. I'll be in Hell, frying for eternity, at least according to your bible. I went out of my way to ensure this by blaspheming about the Holy Ghost. That is the only truly unforgivable sin. I'd tell you what I said but the moderator would delete my comment. I'll just tell you it involved a pineapple and a toilet plunger and the good old Holy Spook.
 @dylandawgie  @Gaikokujin  @Papio No need to be rude. We all can believe what we want to. I personally believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but that's ME. YOU don't have to believe what I do, but if you live your life like there is no God, for your sake, I hope you're right.
@Somewhere @dylandawgie ...another cultist at work
@Gaikokujin @Papio @Somewhere Until then you can continue kneeling and bending over for that matter.
 @Gaikokujin They can repent in the 11th hour.Â
 @Papio  @Somewhere  @dylandawgie Well just remember that you said that, when one day soon you are kneeling and declaring Yeshua as Lord.  You will have brought your judgment upon yourself,
@Somewhere @dylandawgie Science is eating away at your god and all the others that have ever been imagined by humans desperate to explain the world around them. Soon the theistic world view will be extinct, and everyone will be better off.
 @dylandawgie  @Somewhere Sounds like you are going to be quite surprised one day soon.
 @Just_Mike  @dylandawgie  @Somewhere you atheists crack me up, always with the disrespect of people of faith & of God, sad truly sad.
 @dylandawgie  @Gaikokujin  @Somewhere The sky wizard will let those who followed a specific interpretation of Christianity (like Catholic, Mormon, Protestant) into heaven, but everyone else has to burn. Or maybe they all get in, but only the ones who chose (or were conveniently born into) the "right" religion get the best parking spot and valet parking at heaven's best night clubs. And they get VIP passes while the wrong Christians get a couple drink tickets.
@Gaikokujin @Somewhere Oh really? Pleae enlighten us as to what's going to happen "one day soon"?
 @dylandawgie  @Somewhere Just what kind of "thumping" do you prefer?
@komoispropaganda @Somewhere Disney's Thumper thumping.