Person cuts down church cross on Easter Sunday

Kara Fohner, The Gaston Gazette
Updated ·2 min read
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Someone cut down the cross that was standing in front of a Mount Holly church on Easter Sunday.
Someone cut down the cross that was standing in front of a Mount Holly church on Easter Sunday.

When Pastor Kevin McClure arrived at Cornerstone Family Worship Center early in the morning on Easter Sunday, he knew immediately that something was wrong. The cross that normally stands proudly in front of the church was on the ground.

"My wife said maybe the storm had knocked it over. I'm like, 'There's no way.' Because I helped build it. I said, 'Somebody's cut it down,'" McClure said.

Surveillance footage from the church confirmed his suspicions. It showed someone cross into the church lawn from the street and use a saw to cut down the cross.

"I was bothered by it, of course, it being, like I said, Resurrection Sunday. Of all days, that's the pinnacle of Christianity," he said. "To me, to do damage to it on that particular day was very disheartening. I think it was disrespectful, distasteful. I personally was just in shock, honestly."

Mount Holly Police are now looking for that individual, who could be charged with damage to property and ethnic intimidation, both misdemeanors.

In the meantime, McClure and other men from the church put the cross back up, and they managed to get it up before the 11 a.m. Easter service.

"They tried to come and steal some of our joy that day, but we didn't allow them to steal our joy. We praised God right through it and had a great day," McClure said.

Men at Cornerstone Family Worship Center put up a cross that someone cut down in the early morning hours of Easter Sunday.
Men at Cornerstone Family Worship Center put up a cross that someone cut down in the early morning hours of Easter Sunday.

As for the person responsible, McClure said he would like an apology.

"I would personally tell them that I think that they need to get right with God. Apologize to him. He needs to apologize to God. I would apologize to the congregation personally, and I would kind of throw myself at the mercy of the people and ask for their forgiveness," he said.

He also said that he hopes that police are able to find the person who did it.

"If the person asks for forgiveness, I think we should forgive, but at the same time, I think they need to be brought before the law, the reason being is so we can help them," he said.

The Mount Holly Police Department has contacted the FBI to determine whether federal charges may be appropriate in the case.

Anyone with information concerning this case is asked to contact the Mount Holly Police Department at 704-827-4343.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Person knocks down Mount Holly church cross on Easter Sunday