Gastonia pastor plans to replace church's cross after it was set on fire

GASTONIA, N.C. — Police said someone lit the cross in front of a Gaston County church on fire Wednesday morning.

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Officers said they were called to Loray Baptist Church on West Franklin Boulevard just before 7:45 a.m. after a homeless man told them he saw flames while he was praying outside.

Church members said the man came to sit on the steps and pray for forgiveness of his sins.

He was angry when he called 911.

“I was praying and I was weeping, and I seen the cross smoldering,” he told the dispatcher.

When firefighters got there, they said the cross was smoldering.

"It's sad to see something like this happen. It's just beyond understanding why anyone would do that,” Pastor Kent Cranford said.

He said with a burning cross being a sign of racism, he wonders if someone may have been upset because a black minister will lead revival at the church in a couple of weeks.

Cranford said what happened won't stop their plans. He said everyone is welcome, even the person who did this.

"God loves you. Seek his grace,” Cranford said.

Channel 9 spotted one church member praying at the burnt cross.

For her, the symbol of forgiveness and redemption hasn't lost its meaning even in this shape.

"There is no point in being angry. We just want to find out if somebody did this, if there is some way we can help them,” church member Jeane Moore said.

Both the Gastonia police and fire departments are investigating.

Detectives took a sample of a charred portion of the cross to have it tested in a lab to help determine who started the fire. They're also checking video cameras.

Meanwhile, the pastor went to work to replace the symbol that means so much.

"We will probably put up a bigger cross,” Cranford said.

They will erect that cross Wednesday night after Bible study in a solemn event to replace what someone tried to take away.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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