13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Two Anderson churches hit by vandals
The graffitti were cleaned off the wall of the Landmark Baptist Church
The letters "DX" were sprayed on nearby Landmark Baptist Church.
Pastor Brad BrizendineJeremy Brilliant/Eyewitness News
Anderson - Two Anderson Churches spent the day cleaning up after vandals struck with spray paint.
A local company is replacing siding for free after vandals defaced the front of Greenbriar Community Church in Anderson.
"A lot of what we're experiencing is nothing more than a hostile opposition to the church of Jesus Christ," said Pastor Brad Brizendine, Greenbriar Community Church.
The letters "DX" were also sprayed on nearby Landmark Baptist Church, although the writing was cleaned off by Monday morning. Police have no suspects but do have a hunch.
"It's kind of indicative of what we see coming from the kids, spray painting or 'tagging' as a lot of them refer to it as," said Det. Joel Sandefur, Anderson Police Department.
While police are not absolutely certain about its meaning, they think it is a reference to professional wrestling. D Generation X is a wrestling team who pose as rebels doing whatever they like. Their trademark letters are often found spray-painted. In Anderson someone decided to use churches as billboards.
"Why they would use the front of a building like that? I think there's a spirit of mockery with people like that," commented one resident.
In recent weeks someone smashed a basketball backboard at the church. Two months ago, a collection jar was stolen. "Over the last four years I'd say we've had at least a dozen incidents," said Det. Sandefur.
The grafitti came as little surprise because what seemed like an act of hate really stems from ignorance.
"I immediately felt that well, the emotion of anger is really not due here," said Pastor Brizendine. "This is just something that we need to take to God and I believe God will deal with this and use it for good."
