'Woe to you who are rich': Two 12Stone Church locations vandalized

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County police are asking for the public's help in finding those responsible for vandalism at two Gwinnett locations of 12Stone Church.

"Woe to you who are rich," graffiti on one wall read, with windows smashed nearby.

Another wall, miles away at another location of the popular 12Stone Church, said "John 2:16," a reference to a Bible verse that ends with "Stop turning my father's house into a market."

Police said the 12Stone locations, in Lawrenceville and Duluth, were vandalized in recent weeks, with damage approaching $10,000. Police have no suspects.

Each location was spray-painted with phrases and strange symbols, police said.

It appears the vandals wanted to bring attention to the huge church's financial backing.

The leaders at 12Stone Church say the vandals misunderstand what they're all about. %

%

Two unidentified suspects were caught on surveillance.

"The references that these people are making are really taking scriptures completely out of context,” CFO Norwood Davis said.

Channel 2’s Nicole Carr sat down with Davis, who says the vandalism was discovered when volunteers and staff came in to prepare for Sunday worship service.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Mystery newlyweds in breathtaking Yosemite pic turn out to be Australian actors, photographer says
• Bishop Eddie Long says he is recovering from 'health challenge'
• Austin Harrouff unable to talk three weeks after face-biting, stabbings

The incidents both happened sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

"In one sense, it’s just water off a duck's back,” Davis said.

By the time Carr sat down for the interview Wednesday morning, the church had already repaired the estimated $10,000 worth of damage, with leaders saying they're not surprised a place as large as 12Stone had been targeted.

It's happened before and all they can do is stay focused on their message and mission.

"We're really not elevating or escalating cowardly, criminal acts that are really perpetrated under the cloak of anonymity and the cover of darkness,” Davis said.

Gwinnett police are asking for the public's help in identifying those two men you saw in the surveillance video.

Cox Media Group