Vandals hit Murrells Inlet church

The Touching Heaven, Changing Earth Ministries building in Murrells Inlet is at the center of a criminal investigation, dealing with vandalism. The church sits at the intersection of Hammock and Murrells Inlet Road.

Pastor Buck Browder and his wife, Sheila told News13 church members brought the vandalism to their attention just after dawn Tuesday morning.

The pair opened the church up five years ago as an outreach ministry to feed and clothe the area’s needy.

The damage was done to the east outside wall of the church, as well as the church’s sign.

The vandals spray-painted the words, “There is no God,“ and “Just kill babies,“ on both sides of a wooden cross on the outside wall of the church.

“And then right here at the cross. I think that’s symbolic, too right here at the cross. They could have done it anywhere, they could have done it on the back of the church, but right here at the cross to write there is no God, “ Sheila Browder said as she stood by the wall where the vandals hit.

The church sign also had a profile of a man’s face sprayed on it with, what the Browder’s believe is a joint, in the man’s mouth with the words, “Smoking” written underneath.

Georgetown County investigators took the report on the crime Tuesday morning and the Browders said investigators found an empty spray can in a ditch nearby with fingerprints in the dried paint on the outside of the can.

Pastor Browder told News13 his church and the community won’t stand for crimes like this, “It’s a message, people are sending messages to this community. Well, it’s time for us to send a message to these folks. We’re not going to have it; we’re going to take a stand.“

The church spends several days throughout the week feeding and providing clothes to the needy in the area, and Tuesday the church served nearly 100 people when News13 stopped by around lunch time Tuesday.

The church serves about 200 families every week and has thousands of clients from across the area.

The Browder’s said they don’t think the vandalism was a random act and believe the vandals targeted the church.

Sheila Browder said the cost to repair the damage could mean some people they serve could go without, “We depend on donations from the community and grants to keep all of this going. So, when somebody vandalizes something, that’s just money we could use to purchase food that we’re going to use now to clean up a church.“

Georgetown County sheriff’s sergeant, Neil Johnson, told News13 the case will be assigned to an investigator soon and any and all fingerprints will be sent to the State Law Enforcement Division in Columbia to be processed.

You can count on News13 to continue to follow this story.