A place of worship, The Grace Place, has been vandalized

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A place of worship, The Grace Place, has been vandalized. 

According to the South Bend Police Department, units responded to a fire this morning, just before 1:30, at The Grace Place, located on the corner of Western and Main in downtown. 

The building, a place of worship, community and prayer, now has a smashed window with a bag of coal and broken glass as remnants on the ground. 

The lead pastor, Dr. Hyveth Williams, believes the destruction was intentional, but South Bend police think otherwise. 

SBPD have classified the incident as "vandalism," which means the incident could have been an accident. 

Pastor Williams also thinks someone to the homeless community set fire to the building, but this does not deter her or The Grace Place community from investing their efforts into their church's homeless ministry. 

"We have to figure out a way to handle the situation without blaming them," she said. 

Following the incident, The Grace Place leaders will be installing security cameras, floodlights, and other measures to discourage loitering.