by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – Two San Antonio pastors are speaking out after their churches were vandalized over the weekend amid nationwide “No Kings” protests targeting the Trump administration.
Pastor Ed Newton of Community Bible Church shared photos on Facebook showing phrases like “Jesus wants Trump gone!”, “Love thy neighbor,” and “No king but God” spray-painted across the church’s walls and sidewalks. A nearby stop sign was also defaced with “STOP Trump.”
“Let’s be real clear. Jesus is King. Period,” Newton wrote in a statement. “Scripture calls us to pray for all forms of government leadership — the ones we like and the ones we don’t.”
Condemning the graffiti as “a form of hate,” Newton questioned the belief system of those who “spew evil” in the name of faith.
“What Jesus wants is not vandalism or intimidation,” he continued. “Jesus came to save sinners and change hearts — that includes all of us, every president before us, amongst us, and after us. My allegiance isn’t to a political party; it’s to King Jesus — the Lamb and the Lion.”
Pastor Bil Cornelius of Church Unlimited – Stone Oak reported similar vandalism outside his church, where the same message — “Jesus wants Trump GONE” — was spray-painted on the sidewalk.
“Vandalism is not protesting. It is a crime,” Cornelius said on Instagram, citing Romans 13:1: “The authorities that exist have been established by God.” He reaffirmed his church’s commitment to pray for “all American presidents.”
City Leaders Condemn Acts as Hate-Driven
San Antonio Councilwoman Misty Spears, whose District 9 office is near one of the vandalized churches, also condemned the acts.
“This is not peaceful protest or activism… it’s vandalism, and it will not be tolerated,” Spears said. “District 9 and every neighborhood in San Antonio deserves to feel safe and respected.”
She confirmed that cleanup and investigation efforts were underway, coordinated between city staff, TxDOT, and the San Antonio Police Department.
Part of a Growing Trend
The incidents follow a growing wave of attacks on U.S. churches in recent years. According to the Family Research Council, over 400 acts of hostility — including vandalism, arson, bomb threats, and shootings — were reported against churches between 2018 and 2022. Subsequent reports found that over 400 more attacks occurred in 2023 and 2024, with many tied to political or ideological motives.
The FRC noted a sharp rise in church vandalism after the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade.
For Pastor Newton, the recent graffiti underscores a deeper spiritual issue.
“If the mission is to intimidate in the name of Jesus, then I don’t think we’re talking about the same Jesus,” he said. “Jesus is King — not a slogan, not a political weapon — but the reigning Lord who calls us to love, not hate.”
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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