PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - The pastor of a small Pembroke Pines church found out Wednesday morning that someone broke into his sanctuary overnight.
Despite being the victim of a cruel crime, Pastor Earl Richards remains hopeful. “The fact that we lost all these instruments, it’s time for us to pray,” he said.
Richards said he got a call from Pembroke Pines police because his Miracles Through Prayer & Faith Ministries church, located near Southwest 18th Street and 68th Avenue, had been broken into, early Tuesday morning.
Police suspect that someone threw a large rock through the church’s store front. An unknown number of burglars went inside where they stole all sorts of musical equipment valued into the thousands of dollars.
When Richards arrived on scene, he found the microphones unplugged and several other pieces of musical equipment gone. “They took our Rolands keyboard, 72 keys. They took all the microphones,” Richards said.
“It’s very unfortunate that people would come into the church,” he said. “When you steal things anywhere, it’s wrong. But coming to church to steal things in the church, you’re stealing from God.”
The church did have surveillance cameras, but the burglars ripped the cameras off the walls. “This is the camera that was located right there,” Richards said. “They popped it out.”
Richards listed all the things they would typically use during their praise and worship time. “We have about four different kinds of amplifiers. We have a CD deck. We have a mixer,” he said. “We have bass guitars, bass amplifier, lead amplifier. They took about eight, nine different items, which amounts to close to $10,000.”
The music is a big part of their worship, but for now, it’s back to basics. “We clap our hands and shake our tambourines, and we worship God,” Richards said. “We have to get back to that until God provides with some new equipment.”
He has a message for the burglars. “Bring back the instruments, confess your sins to the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask Him to forgive you because you did something wrong, and the church will forgive you.”
The crooks took down the cameras inside the church, but the strip mall it’s located in did have surveillance cameras.
The Pembroke Pines Police Department is investigating the burglary.
If you have any information on this burglary, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
If you would like to help the church recover from the burglary with a donation, contact Pastor Earl Richards at 754-423-0043.
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