The Santiago Retreat Center was left in shock this week as a 14-foot wooden cross was sawed down by an unidentified suspect, according to Orange County sheriff’s officials. The incident occurred at the 500-acre Christian retreat center in Silverado Canyon, where the cross had been recently dedicated during a retreat before Father’s Day. The vandalism took place during the first week of a vacation Bible camp for kids from kindergarten to 8th grade. Fortunately, none of the campers were staying on campus at night at the time of the incident.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department was notified on Thursday afternoon, and investigators believe the vandalism occurred between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. While authorities are treating the incident as a possible hate crime, they are still working on leads to identify the perpetrator. The motive behind the destructive act remains a mystery.
Mark McElrath, the executive director of the center, expressed his disbelief and sadness, questioning why someone would destroy the cross with a chainsaw. He also mentioned that the camp has 24-hour security, but it is unclear if there are surveillance cameras on the premises.
Despite this setback, McElrath assured that the cross would be replaced, thanks to the generous donations from friends of Santiago. Father Glenn Baaten, the chaplain of the center, offered prayers for the person responsible for cutting down the cross, emphasizing the need for compassion and forgiveness.
To support the initiative, officials have set up a GoFundMe page for donations towards replacing the cross. Additionally, a Google Maps embed is provided to locate the Santiago Retreat Center.
Overall, this unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in today’s society, but also highlights the resilience and unity of the community in rebuilding what was lost.
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