FBI investigating explosion, graffiti at church known for anti-LGBT views
Source: ABC News
1 hr ago
The FBI and local authorities are investigating an explosion and vandalism at a church in Southern California known for its controversial pastor and his anti-LGBT views.
The First Works Baptist Church in El Monte, California, just east of downtown Los Angeles, was shaken by a blast in the early morning hours Saturday, according to the FBI. When responding to the scene just after 1 a.m. local time there was smoke coming out of the windows and the outside of the church was covered with graffiti, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
"It appeared that the walls to the church had been vandalized as well as all the windows," El Monte police Lt. Christopher Cano told reporters Saturday. "[The windows] appeared at first to be smashed, then we realized that the windows were not smashed, that they had actually blown out from some type of explosion."
The FBI referred to the explosion as an "IED attack" and said bomb technicians were on the scene investigating.
No one was injured in the blast, police said.
The First Works Baptist Church and its pastor, Bruce Mejia, has developed a reputation for inflammatory language, labeled by many as hate speech. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, labeled First Works Baptist Church a hate group in 2019 for its anti-LGBT stance.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fbi-investigating-explosion-graffiti-at-church-known-for-anti-lgbt-views/ar-BB1d2lSj?li=BBnb7Kz
Bruce Mejia & Adam Fannin wish for the deaths of James White & John MacArthur
JOSHUA LINDSEY SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 9 COMMENTSON BRUCE MEJIA & ADAM FANNIN WISH FOR THE DEATHS OF JAMES WHITE & JOHN MACARTHUR
I am not a Calvinist, so I am no friend of James White, Jeff Durbin, or John MacArthur, among others who hold to that theology. However, just because someone believes wrongly on that doctrine does not mean we are right to wish them to die.
The New IFB disagrees. In the following clip, you can see Bruce Mejia, now pastor of First Works Baptist Church wish for the death of James White (Who he calls James Wine).
Adam Fannin, now pastor of Law of Liberty Baptist Church then wishes for the death of John MacArthur. Maybe John MacArthur will die this year, maybe God will really bless us with killing of some major false prophets.
Standing by and complicitly agreeing to this kind of sinful talk were Jason Robinson, Pastor of Mountain Baptist Church; David Berzins, pastor of Strong Hold Baptist Church; Patrick Boyle, pastor of Revival Baptist Church, and New IFB member Chad Rich.
More:
https://newifb.info/index.php/2019/09/28/bruce-mejia-adam-fannin-wish-for-the-deaths-of-james-white-john-macarthur/
brewens
(13,588 posts)roamer65
(36,745 posts)Thats a safe bet or maybe a RW false flag operation.
...or are we seeing the formation of a militant LGBT liberation movement?
Now...that would be interesting to say the least.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,002 posts)We've got to be the "Let's wait on the evidence" folks.
Archae
(46,328 posts)I say possible, but until there is an actual arrest of the vandal and bomber, I simply don't know, yet.
I'm not going to right away consider it a "false flag," though.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Doesn't seem like you have to go far to find a suspect.
Roisin Ni Fiachra
(2,574 posts)and get a fat insurance check to build your shiny new hate church with.
It's a win win all around for them, if they get away with it.
New church, lots of fame, and the people you hate get trashed for doing nothing wrong.
Motive. Lots of motive.
Yes, it could be a random nutjob who did this, but first I'd look at the purse.
displacedtexan
(15,696 posts)Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)displacedtexan
(15,696 posts)My theory: It's easy to scream ATTACK and blame liberal Communist Pinko Anti-Fascists until bomb squads do their expert analysis.
Time will tell what happened.
twin_ghost
(435 posts)It is possible the owner did the deed to collect insurance money on an old building.