It was hardly following in line with the holiday spirit.
The downtown Victoria church that installed a fence around its perimeter last week was vandalized ahead of its holiday service.
The Central Baptist Church erected the fence to stop people from doing drugs and leaving syringes near its entrance.
Speaking on CFAX Wednesday with Adam Stirling, Pastor Barton Priebe says it didn't look like the usual suspects.
"It was actually not part of the street community, it was actually two girls about 17 years old in a car. They jumped out of the car, spray painted it and then jumped in the car and headed off. So, that's all we really know at this point. I couldn't comment at all on what's going on with the police side of it."
Those walking past the building Sunday morning saw the spray-painted message across the fence that read “Hategate?” and the acronym for “What Would Jesus Do?”
The messages have since been partially covered up, and
Pastor Priebe says the church is increasing its work with the street community.