Ancaster’s Meadowlands Fellowship Church responds to vandals with love

Meadowlands Fellowship Church and its rental partners are responding to vandalism with love and compassion.

The building, which includes the church, a music school and daycare, has been vandalized on four nights in the past five weeks.

The vandals have caused about $3,500 in damage, primarily by smashing glass windows and doors to 201 Stonehenge Dr.

The vandalism has caused a “bit of unease,” but the church, daycare and music school members have responded with love, compassion and forgiveness, says Steve Dykstra, program ministries director of the 450-member congregation.

Plywood used to cover broken windows and doors have been peppered with heartfelt messages of support: “You are loved by all,” “Welcome, Jesus loves you,” “No hard feelings, eh?,” “You are always welcome to ask, ‘Who are we?’”

The church will also participate in its first Doors Open Hamilton event on May 5 and 6.

Meadowlands Fellowship was the first church in Ontario to be exclusively warmed and cooled through a geothermal heat exchange system. Parishioners continue to use energy and water-saving measures to reduce their carbon footprint.

Dykstra praised Hamilton police for “doing a great job,” responding to each vandalism call and referring the case to the BEAR — Break and Enter, Auto Theft and Robbery — unit.

The church is holding a community May 7 with Ancaster Community Services and Hamilton police.

“We see (the meeting) as an opportunity to talk about neighbourhood safety, but more important, to build on the community’s existing strengths.”

For more information about the meeting, visit pmd@meadowlandsfellowship. com or call 905-304-4219 ext. 223.