Everything, even racist graffiti, happens for a reason, the pastor of a recently-vandalized church told his congregation and concerned members of the community during a service and solidarity action today.
Selburn Fray, pastor of the Seventh-Day Adventist Chruch in Guelph, says he is proud of how his congregation handled the defacing of the church's roof just over a week ago, which included the words ‘I hate N—‘.
“I am amazed, I am overwhelmed with the support the congregation has given to me and how they have taken it,” said Fray.
The congregation, noted Fray, is multiethnic and comprised of people from about 10 different nationalities.
Today's sermon focussed on love and inclusion. Fray told those in attendance the church’s doors are open — even to the perpetrator or perpetrators of the hateful graffiti.
“We would look them in the eye and forgive them. In fact, we wouldn’t ask them 'why did you do this?' We don’t want to know why — it’s done. In my view, we want to move forward. How can we help you to prevent you from doing this to someone, somewhere else,” said Fray.
Being Christian, said Fray, means being persecuted, as they believe Jesus Christ also was.
“It is not unique to us. It has happened before, it is happening now and we believe it will happen again. All we have to do is hold on to Christ, we will get our strength from him,” said Fray.
The community at large was invited to attend today’s Sabbath service at the church. Mayor Cam Guthrie, councillor Phil Allt and Mike Schreiner, leader of the Ontario Green Party, were among those in attendance.
Concerned Guelphite David de Weerdt decided to attend the service after hearing about the racist graffiti on Facebook and said he was offended by the words spray painted on the roof.
“I am outraged to see any attack on a community that is coming out of a place of hate and prejudice. I won’t stand for it,” said de Weerdt.
The hateful graffiti was not just an attack on this church, said de Weerdt, but on Guelph as a whole.
He cited rescent violent clashes between white supremacist and anti-hate groups in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“It’s just some graffiti, but in the context of what is happening in the world it has a deeper resonance,” said de Weerdt.
Today’s service was uplifting, he said.
“I am really impressed how the congregation, through its minister, has responded. It is responding with love,” said de Weerdt.
Addressing the congregation, Guthrie cited two bible verses, including one from The Gospel According to Mark, 'a house divided against itself cannot stand.'
"I view the city of Guelph like that house. When we see things like this happening in our community, it cannot stand — it’s dividing,” he said.
Guthrie led a prayer in support of the congregation.
Allt said he doesn’t like to admit that racism exists in Guelph.
I have to be honest and admit that it does. It’s something we have to root out. There is no excuse for intolerance, we have to work as a community and stand collectively for the betterment of everybody in Guelph,” he told GuelphToday prior to the service.
Allt also noted the violence in Charlottesville, as well as a recent terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spain.
“With everything churning around us, whether it’s in Spain or the United States, we have to acknowledge we are equally as vulnerable and equally as responsible in Guelph as we might be in the capitals of the world,” said Allt.
Fray said in his 24 years as a pastor he has never experienced hateful graffiti sprayed on church property.
“Some people see it as a hate crime. We might see it as God using this person for us to share our message with the community of Guelph,” he said.
Fray said he is thankful for the support the congregation has received from the community in light of the racist vandalism.
“They are walking with us, they are mourning with us, they are feeling our pain and standing with us. We are thankful to the community and also to God.”
