Cedar Rapids church vandalized

A small neighborhood church that recently launched a food and medical supplies pantry for senior citizens has been the target of vandals for the second time this month.

The Rev. Jim Coyle, pastor at The Neighborhood Church, 701 25th St. NE, in Cedar Rapids, said someone spray-painted graffiti on the church building, a shed and a van the church recently purchased for its food pantry. He said the vandalism was committed sometime between 9 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. Tuesday, when church staff returned to the building.

Someone threw eggs at the church earlier this month, he said.

“They did a pretty good job on us, but the guys got busy on it right away,” Coyle said.

He said he's not sure of a damage estimate because church volunteers were working to remove the paint on their own.

Coyle, who was pastor at Ellis Community Church, 1300 Sixth St. NW, before it was destroyed in the floods of 2008, said the vandalism isn't something that followed the congregation or him to the new building.

“I've been a pastor for 27 years and this is the first time something like this has happened,” he said.

Coyle said he thinks someone isn't happy with the positive things he is doing in the neighborhood.

“My positive outlook is that we must be doing something really good and someone doesn't like it,” he said. “Over the last few weeks we have helped a lot of people with food and medical supplies, and that just emphasizes that we're doing something really good in the community. I think this is one of those ‘persecutions' for doing good.”