Bemis Church Vandalized Again
A man is in police custody after vandalizing First Baptist Church of Bemis
BEMIS, Tenn.-Members of the First Baptist Church of Bemis gathered for their last service of 2015, Wednesday night. Unfortunately, church leadership had to inform the congregation that their building had been vandalized for the second time in the last two weeks.
“We got a lot of damage around here, but we will get over it,” said Associate Pastor John Norvell. “We’ll get it fixed.”
Joshua Siedl has been charged vandalizing First Baptist Church. Ironically, investigators said Siedl used a cross he stole from another location to break eight church windows.
“It was disheartening to know that people will go and vandalize a church,” said Richard Mann. “I knew they vandalized other places earlier.”
Court documents show Siedl also broke several light fixtures at Fire Station No. 4 and tore out the screens of the station’s patio. Since the incident, the windows have been boarded up, but the thought of the cross being used in that way left some emotional.
“Bring tears to your eyes thinking that they would take that cross, that’s such a dear symbol and use instead to try to harm his church,” said Mann.
“I can’t hardly talk about it without tearing up,” said his wife, Melanie Mann. “Cause I think of the cross of Christ and what that symbol means to us, and it hurts.”
Church member say they are praying for Siedl who is in custody at the Madison County Criminal Justice Center.
“It’s our prayer that through this, although we are sad that it happened, that they will come to know the Lord and we can just show our love,” said Mrs. Mann.
Siedl was also charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He told police he has anger issues and was angry with his father when he vandalized the church.
