By GAIL MAHOLICK

gmaholick@tnonline.comMembers of Ebenezer Evangelical Congregation Church of Jim Thorpe, continue to pray for the person who has vandalized their billboard once again.Michelle Hamm, church secretary, said that the billboard recently was vandalized for about the 10th time since it was installed.She said the billboard was put up along Route 209 in the Packerton area in Mahoning Township about one and a half years ago by church members.She said that Pennsylvania Department of Transportation owns the right-of-way and gave the church permission to place the billboard there."It cost us about $200 to put up the sign," she said. Those costs are for the signage only.The sign says, "You're invited. Sunday, My House. 10:30 a.m."The billboard has the address of the church, 441 Center Ave., and a picture of Jesus. The vandalism is targeted to the picture of Jesus' face.Mahoning Township police received a report that the sign was vandalized overnight Wednesday. This time the vandal used Radiant Colors ink (tribal black) was found next to the billboard. This ink is commonly used in the tattoo industry."Our pastor, the Rev. Nathaniel Kennedy does the clean up himself," she said. "He usually does it as fast as he can after each incident."She said that the pastor said that it gets harder to clean up each time because it is starting to take off the face.The pastor uses general cleaning products."Last Easter day he was up there cleaning for about three hours," she said."We have a period during our service when we offer prayer requests," Hamm said. "Someone always brings up the person who vandalized the sign. We always offer prayers for that person. We offer a lot of prayers at our church."Hamm said that the church board had discussed placing Plexiglas over the sign, but had decided against it."I guess they decided not to because it might make it harder to clean up," she said. "We wonder when it gets vandalized because it is such a high traffic area. Whoever is doing it must be doing it at odd hours of the night.Anyone with information is asked to contact township police at 570-386-2241 or by email at

mahtwppd@ptd.net.Ebenezer E.C. Church is nestled at the base of historic Mt. Pisgah in the heights of Jim Thorpe. The congregation first began meeting in 1855, and the current church was constructed in 1896.Worship services are held Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday School is held at 9:30 a.m.