Church of Lucifer vandalized prior to opening outside Houston

Inside view of the Greater Church of Lucifer in Spring. The church will have the grand opening October 30th, 2015. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. Inside view of the Greater Church of Lucifer in Spring. The church will have the grand opening October 30th, 2015. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Church of Lucifer vandalized prior to opening outside Houston 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Despite damage inflicted through a bizarre act of vandalism, the Greater Church of Lucifer's opening in suburban Houston is still on.

The church, which is renting space among the quaint shops on Main Street in Old Town Spring, opened Friday. In an earlier interview, church representative Jacob No (not his real name) said organizers were not publicizing the exact opening time in an effort to avoid trouble.

The strategy didn't work.

During the night Wednesday or early Thursday, someone used a chain saw to cut a major limb of a large, old pecan tree growing through part of the building that houses the church, said an area business owner who asked not to be identified.

The limb was at least a foot in diameter and about 30 feet long, the observer said.

Church organizers could not be reached for comment. In earlier interviews, church representatives have emphasized that they are not Satan worshipers but simply seek understanding, or "the light."

Nevertheless, protesters have showed up in front of the building, and some are calling the tree-cutting incident an act of hate.

"Because of the (church) name, everybody is going head-over-heels crazy," the business owner said. "I'm totally saddened that in our country we are having this kind of hate going on."