"Woe to you who are rich," the graffiti on one wall read, windows smashed nearby.
Another wall, miles away at another location of the popular 12Stone Church, said merely "John 2:16" — a reference to a Bible verse that ends with "Stop turning my Father's house into a market!"
12Stone locations in Lawrenceville and Duluth were both vandalized in recent weeks, Gwinnett County police said, the damage approaching $10,000 and the suspects unknown. Each location was spray painted with dubious phrases and strange symbols.
"In both incidents," police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said in a news release, "the suspect(s) left pamphlets at the church expressing their displeasure with the operations of the church."
12Stone Church has six locations in and around Gwinnett County, with new venues slated to open in Snellville and Braselton later this month. Thousands of worshippers attend the church's contemporary-style services each week.
Earlier this year, church members returned a centuries-old family Bible to its rightful owners.
Pihera said the church's location at 1322 Buford Drive near Lawrenceville was vandalized early Aug. 21. In addition to spray painted messages, four exterior windows were smashed.
"Surveillance footage shows two suspects on the campus around 4 a.m.," Pihera said.
The 12Stone Church at 2050 Sugarloaf Parkway near Duluth was vandalized around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Surveillance footage shows one suspect "peeking around a corner before spray painting the lens of a security camera," police said. More windows were broken.
No arrests have been made, and police are asking for the public's help identifying those responsible. Anyone with information should call GCPD detectives at 404-513-5300.
Tipsters can also remain anonymous — and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000 — by calling Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477, visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org or texting the information to 274637.
In a statement emailed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday afternoon, 12Stone chief financial officer Norwood Davis said the church was "disappointed that those who question our ministry chose criminal activity under the cloak of anonymity and the cover of darkness instead of sitting down and having a conversation with us."
"Had they sought a conversation instead of destroying property," Davis continued, "we may have been able to address their concerns. And, we are still open to having a conversation with them. So, we will continue to focus our efforts on following Christ’s example of helping others discover faith and serve our community.”
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