County of church: Callaway County
Location of church: MO-JJ & CR-136, about 2 miles SE of Calwood
Phone: (573) 592-0056
Pastor: Bruce Williamson
"The vandals have struck over the last four months. In the small town of Calwood, New Hope Baptist Church has served its 50 members without interruption for more than 30 years. But in July, Pastor Bruce Williamson got to church to find a sight he never expected.
'"I saw muddy tracks on the floor," Williamson said. "So, I didn't have much trouble to follow and went to the back door where they gained entry."
"The vandals broke in, causing $250 in losses, including a stolen DVD player. Williamson saw the damage on the back door immediately.
'"Everything that you see here as far as frame, security bars, studs, everything was laying in this floor right here," Williamson said.
"Williamson called church member Martha Wyman to come help him clean up. Wyman says it was a call she didn't see coming.
'"We were so secure, I mean felt secure," Wyman said. "And he called, and said they kicked the door in. It was just hard to believe."
"The vandals not only tried to break into the church, but they came over to the school house and tried kicking in the door. Williamson says, thankully, [sic] they were unsuccessful. In the last four months, vandals attacked Ebenezer Baptist Church and New Hope, both in Calwood, as well as Harmony Baptist in Bachelor, Pleasant Grove United Methodist, and Old Auxvasse Presbyterian Church. Williamson says the damage hasn't brought the church's spirit down.
'"Community is powerful," Williamson. "And when the church community comes together, that's really power."
"It's a power Williamson says no one can take away." ~ KOMU Channel 8 News, September 20, 2007