After an LGBTQ+-inclusive church in Austin, Texas, was vandalized on Thursday, the community came together to transform the act of hate into something beautiful.The vandals tore down the Pride flag at Life in the City UMC and graffitied Pride was the 1st sin on the front of the building. Afterward, volunteers joined the church for a creative restoration project to transform the graffiti into a mural featuring two Progress Pride flags flanking the church doorway. Related Germanys parliament banned the Pride flag. It backfired spectacularly. Far-right influence is growing in the country, but queer people and allies arent backing down. At Life in the City, we strive to welcome those on the outside to the inside of the circle because Jesus greatest commandment was for us to love our neighbor as ourselves, the church wrote on Instagram in response to the graffiti. And we will continue to do that, even to those who chose to deface our church building as we know, the church is not the walls, it is the people and the community. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Life in the City UMC (@litcaustin) Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The mural also includes broken stained glass because we believe that we are each broken pieces of stained glass that all come together to make a beautiful picture, one person involved with the project told KVUE. A post on Saturday celebrated that the mural had been completed only 12 hours after the hateful incident. At Life in the City, we make beautiful things out of the dust, the church said, adding, Now, this is one flag you cant tear down. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Life in the City UMC (@litcaustin) In a separate statement, Pastor Glenn Luhrs reaffirmed the churchs mission of radical inclusivity. Let us be clear. Life in the City stands firm in our call to love our neighbor, without exception or condition, Luhrs said. Our faith compels us to protect, uplift, and advocate for the dignity of all people, especially those who are targeted, silenced, or pushed aside. That includes our LGBTQIA+ family, women, and anyone whose identity is used as justification for harm.The outside of our building may have been damaged, but our spirit has not. Our commitment to love, justice, and inclusion only grows stronger. And our doors will remain open to everyone always, all ways. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Life in the City UMC (@litcaustin)On its website, the church describes itself as a place where outsiders are insiders. It says its a place that believes in both God and science, declares that reason is a gift, and says every human is of sacred worth, which is why we affirm all gender identities and sexualities, and why we are committed to the work of anti-racism.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.