MASON CITY — A sign posted by a Mason City church as a reminder of God’s unconditional love after a contentious election has been vandalized with spray paint.

The message outside First Congregational United Church of Christ reads: “We are a sanctuary for the least, lost, gay & straight, female, Muslim…For all! God’s love wins!”

On Friday morning, Pastor Chuck Kelsey learned someone had sprayed red paint on the plastic sign covering over the word “gay.”

“I’m so sad for people who can’t get beyond hate,” Kelsey said, sighing. “What it is in their lives that causes them to hate so much? Everyone has a different story. I’m more than willing to listen to their story, but I’m not, you know, I’m not willing to give in to the hate.”