BALTIMORE — Reverend Ray Cotton of Mount Sinai Baptist Church has overcome obstacles over the years, and 2025 is starting no different. Just 10 days into the new year a man broke in and vandalized the sanctuary.
"He did damage to the pulpit, to the rear of the pulpit, tore down the emblem of the cross, knocked down things," said Rev. Cotton.
When he saw the damage, he was in disbelief, "When I got the call, I was overwhelmed and in disbelief and literally shocked."
Mount Sinai Baptist Church has had its fair share of challenges over the years. There were two separate fires in 2016 and 2019. For 7 years, they couldn't worship inside the sanctuary.
Despite all the setbacks, Rev. Cotton carried on, just as he will this week, "This will not deter any of our efforts to do ministry within the community. It's not going to hamper our worship. We had a high tide this past Sunday."
Reverend Cotton says the man who caused the damage was arrested. He was taken to Johns Hopkins University for a medical evaluation. He tells us the man claimed God told him to destroy the church.
He has a message for that man: "We are forgiving him, but at the same time, there is an accountability factor. We hope he gets the proper medical attention to assist him."
The pastor tells WMAR-2 News they plan to fix the damage by Sunday, but church services will continue, regardless.
