Vandals spray-paint Alabama church for hosting TPUSA event

Authorities in northern Alabama on Wednesday called on the local community to help identify suspects who vandalized Movement Church in Madison. The phrases “Bryan Dawson serves the anti-Christ” and “Beware his falsehoods” were spray-painted on the church’s doors and exterior wall, according to photos and a statement from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

The graffiti referenced a Turning Point USA event that was scheduled to occur at the church Thursday night. Bryan Dawson, the president and CEO of 1819 News, a conservative regional news outlet, was expected to be a speaker. Sheriff Kevin Turner said his office would use every possible resource to identify the vandals and bring them to justice.

How has the church responded? Movement Church Pastor Seth Adgate released a Wednesday video describing the vandalism as demonic. Someone is attacking a church for teaching Biblical values, and that won’t be tolerated, he said. Adgate insisted that Movement Church would not cower to the offenders and would continue forward in bold faith. It doesn't matter whether you’re Republican or Democrat, because the church votes for Biblical worldview, he added. In the same video, Adgate’s wife, Lori, described her sadness for the vandals. God has something better for them because he loves them, and Jesus died for them, she said. The Turning Point event was scheduled to continue as planned, and attendees will need to show identification at the door for safety.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office encouraged locals to share security footage from Tuesday and Wednesday and report any suspicious activity.