PALESTINE, Texas — An East Texas teen accused of breaking into and vandalizing a historic church in Palestine has found a path to redemption, thanks to a mother’s love and the community’s support.

What started as a mistake has turned into a mission of restoration for Cameron Wheaton.

The First Baptist Church, once a place of worship, had fallen into disrepair. Local group Revitalize PTX is working to restore the building and bring new life to the space.

“All you need is the right person, the right heart and the right vision, and you can breathe life back into it,” Kimberly Williams, the president of operations, said.

This summer, the restoration story took a rough turn: In July, the group posted on Facebook — two teens had broken in, vandalized the space and stolen tools.

With hel

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