This morning at 9:15am, I (Mike) got an e-mail that the place where we store our church trailer has been broken into.  On the way to the storage area, I got a call from a friend who had arrived first on the scene and he said, “Your trailer wasn’t here was it?”  I had that heart sinking feeling.  Our trailer has been stolen.

Apparently, someone really wanted to get our trailer and smashed two different locked gates with their vehicle to get it.  It contained our church equipment minus the sound equipment (we store that in another location…and I’m glad we do!).

So, the question is, besides filing a police report and insurance claim, how should we respond to this news.  Here is part of what I sent our church family this morning:

“This is a time for us as a church family to show the love of Christ toward these thieves and toward our watching world.  Trailers do not bring joy, Jesus brings joy.  So, join with me in worshipping Jesus today even in the midst of some harder news.  Our hope is in Christ, not in security.  Our hope is in Christ, not in equipment.  Our hope is in Jesus Christ, and not in getting our trailer back!”

1 Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

We live in a broken world, but we have a Savior who IS our HOPE.  Please pray for these theives to come to know Jesus (maybe read the bibles that are in the trailer) and please pray for our ministry leaders as we have quite a bit of work trying to replace that which was stolen.