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North America

Adventist Pastor and Family in Denver, Colorado, Victims of Hate Crime

Church members, other area pastors, and two conferences band together in support.

United States | Rocky Mountain Conference News

On Sabbath, January 9th, Pastor Oshaine Wynter came home to find someone left him a hateful message spray-painted on his home. Wynter is a resident of Aurora, Colorado and the pastor of the New Community Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver as well as the Boston Street Seventh-day Adventist church in Aurora. Both churches belong to the Central States Conference, a sister to the Rocky Mountain Conference.

Wynter said the situation has “been disappointing and sickening.” He went on to recall the fear he felt when he saw those freshly-painted words on his garage door, knowing his wife and their two young children were inside the house, just feet away. Wynter posted pictures of the crime on Facebook and the comments came in almost immediately. 

 

"I’m so sorry your wife, children, and yourself had to endure this terrible racist thing. Bro, please be safe and keep your family safe. This is unacceptable.”

Another posted, “No excuse for this cruelty! Prayers for your safety and for a repentant heart for the perpetrators.”

After seeing the horrific picture on Facebook, Jessyka Dooley, Rocky Mountain Conference Assistant Youth Director, said, “This really makes my blood boil. My heart goes out to Oshaine and his family. May we surround them with love in both our words and actions during this time.”

Ed Barnett, Rocky Mountain Conference President said, “I am just appalled that racism is so apparent today in Denver. It just blows my mind.”

The Central States Conference Vice President of Administration, Cryston Josiah, echoed Barnett’s comment, saying “He (Oshaine) has our love and support fully. We do not condone attacks against him or anyone else.”

The police were notified of the hate crime and will continue to investigate. Wynter said there is a new level of fearfulness among church members. For safety reasons, Wynter and his family moved from their home.

Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) pastors, from Littleton and Franktown, helped the Wynter family relocate. The RMC youth department has also reached out to Wynter to offer assistance with any needs his family may have.

Barnett added that following a successful gathering sponsored by the Littleton and Denver Park Hill Churches in October 2020, “the Rocky Mountain Conference continues to explore and hold conversations on how we can take a stand against racial injustice and promote solidarity among the ethnically-diverse population that both conferences serve.”

 

https://www.rmcsda.org/hate-crime-hits-local-adventist-pastor/ 

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