We pray. We forgive. We welcome. We move ahead. We remain vigilant — these were the headings of his message.

He said the church has been gathering at this location since 1989 and has seen very little vandalism or damage done to the building over the years. He said the church leaders are aware that these types of things happen from time to time at religious centres. That's to be expected, he said, but added “we’re not afraid of anybody or anything.”

The church doesn’t currently have cameras around the property, but following this incident church leaders are discussing installing them.

Even though the term Islamic state was used in the messaging, Groenewald said it means nothing.

“I’m not attributing any meaning to it. It could just be kids.”

Police investigators approach this term much differently.

On Tuesday afternoon, members of the OPP hate crime unit were at the site, gathering information with forensic investigators. A cap from a spray paint can was found at the scene and will be sent to a lab for testing.

An officer at the scene said because the term Islamic state was used, this vandalism will be treated differently than other types of graffiti.

Possible hate crime

Const. Joshua Cunningham, OPP media spokesperson, said the incident is currently seen as a mischief, but could possibly be deemed a hate crime as the investigation moves forward.

“Given the nature of this messaging, we’re looking at this more closely than the typical graffiti or tagging you might normally see,” he said.

Wellington County OPP will work alongside of Guelph police to investigate this incident, particularly because earlier this month another Guelph Church was victim to a hate crime. The roof of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Lane Street was spray painted with black paint. The message was hateful and racist in nature. Guelph police deemed the act a hate crime and are still looking for leads as to who may have done it.

Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie regularly attends Lakeside Church and found out about the vandalism on Monday. He said this incident, as with the incident at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, frustrates him on multiple levels.

"These churches, they're not just houses of worship. They're places where good community work gets done," he said.

When vandalism like this takes place, it takes the focus and resources of the church away from other important community projects.

Groenewald said one cost estimate to get the wall repaired was $1,200.

"How much of that money could have gone to help people in the community?" Guthrie said. "How many backpacks could that provide" for the Back-to-School program run by the affiliate church at Hopehouse Downtown?

He said he's proud of the way the churches have stepped up after the recent acts of vandalism, "responding with grace and forgiveness." The response from the community has also been excellent, he said.

Guthrie said he's confident someone out there knows who the culprit is. "My gut reaction is that these types of people are probably braggarts."

He said he hopes whoever committed this act of vandalism steps up and turns themselves in or someone anonymously reports them.

OPP investigators are asking anyone who has information about Lakeside Church vandalism to contact them at 1-888-310-1122. Anonymous tips can also be left with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.