NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Neenah Police say vandalism was found at multiple locations throughout the city. One of them was Martin Luther Lutheran Church.
“It’s a sad thing, for sure, and certainly a reminder that there is sin and evil in this world, and those forces are alive and well,” said Martin Luther Lutheran Church Pastor Tyler Schinnick.
The vandalism at the church was not the way members expected to be kicking off Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter Sunday. But they say it shows just how important the week is.
“Here we see God’s answer to sin, and God’s answer to evil that he doesn’t respond in kind, you know, that he responds with love, sends his son to lay down his life and, ultimately, will overcome that evil,” Schinnick said.
“[Expletive] God 666” and “666 [expletive] God,” along with a cross and two pentagrams appeared to have been spray painted on the outside of two doors at the church.
“I would imagine there’s some kind of pain going on, and people lash out, you know, and seek to hurt other people,” said Schinnick. “It’s a sad thing.”
The church wasn’t the only location vandals struck. It appears Washington Park was also vandalized.
A walkway at the park was marked with graffiti, so was a sidewalk in a residential area, near the park.
Neenah Police say an overpass in the city was tagged, as well, but had already been cleaned up by Monday afternoon.
The church worked quickly to remove the damage there, too, thanks to some of its volunteers.
“What a wonderful way for us to let our light shine, you know, to say, ‘We’re gonna keep on going,’” Schinnick said.
Neenah Police say they are at the initial stages of this investigation, and they’re looking into all of the incidents.
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