Bedford County church's nativity scene, cemetery vandalized

Nativity also vandalized in 2012

BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – A church's nativity scene and cemetery were vandalized, the Bedford County Sheriff's Office said.

Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call from the Shiloh United Methodist Church on Forest Road at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday concerning the damage.

The caller said the church's nativity scene had been vandalized and headstones in the cemetery had been overturned.

A deputy said that when he arrived at the church, he found the manger figures had been turned over and electrical cords had been cut. In addition, a large number of headstones had been pushed over and eight were broken. 

The church's pastor says soon after the vandalism was discovered members of the church stepped in to bring the nativity scene back to life. 

"He said I went home and thought about it and said 'I'm not going to let them win.' He came up and brought his grandkids and they got the sucker going again and I just loved it. It was something I couldn't have done," said Charles Johnson, pastor of Shiloh United Methodist Church.

This isn't the first time the church has been vandalized.

In December 2012, Shiloh Methodist Church had 12 large figures from its nativity scene stolen, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested and charged several boys in that case.

Anyone with information on the latest crime can call the Sheriff’s Office at 540-586-7827 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or Text 274637.

Crime Stopper callers remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward up to $1,000.