'We will not let hate win': Haughville community celebrates church in wake of vandalism
The community of Haughville came together Friday afternoon to pray at a vigil dedicated to the neighborhood's church after it was vandalized with anti-religious messages earlier in the week by two teenagers.
"THE DEVIL RULES" was painted across the brick wall of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Tuesday evening.
By Thursday, a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy had been arrested by police for the vandalism and were charged with institutional criminal mischief by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office Friday afternoon.
To many in the community, the vandalism was an unholy sight. But it was also a message that only strengthened their resolve to fight hate with love.
One of the pastors attending the vigil shared that after news of the vandalism had been posted online, the church began receiving calls and messages from people across the nation praying for the church and asking how they could help rejuvenate it.
Within a few days, almost all of the graffiti on the church had been washed away, thanks to the dozens of hours volunteered by community members and officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
That's why Friday's gathering wasn't meant to celebrate the teens' arrest but instead focus on the love that the community had for their church and to pray for God to forgive the two teens for their sins.
"God change (these) two teenagers, deliver them from the grip of Satan in Jesus' name Father, for we know God is your goodness that draws us to repentance," said Ronald Covington, pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.
Friday's gathering was also used as a moment for the community to recognize IMPD Southwest District Commander Nikole Pilkington and her team's commitment to solving the vandalism case and to protecting those within the Haughville neighborhood.
"This is our home away from home, and we want to take care of it just as much as you want to take care of it," Pilkington said to dozens of people gathered outside of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.
"We will not let hate win," she continued. "Any act of vandalism on a church will not be tolerated. We will make sure that we find the people and hold them accountable."
To emphasize her district's commitment to the neighbor and its prosperity, Pilkington shared with the dozens of people gathered outside of the church that her team and this year's IMPD recruit class would be going around the neighborhood to help remove any graffiti on people's homes.
Aaron Williams, with the City of Peace Coalition, shared that for many in the community, the cost of removing graffiti from their home walls is a remedy that people can't afford, and because of that, it became an issue that plagued the community.
However, the vandalism of the church was a wake-up call for community leaders and inspired Pilkington and her team to donate their time to help address the lingering problem.
"It just shows we're Haughville strong, and it shows our commitment to beautifying and keeping our community clean," Covington said.
Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, and follow him on X @1NoePadilla or Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Haughville community rallies to support church defaced with graffiti
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