LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Pastors at Celebration Church near Gowan Road in Las Vegas arrived early Monday to find a door ajar, their office, children's room, and sanctuary ransacked, and computers, instruments, sound equipment, and donation coffer stolen.
Senior Pastor Danny Hand said the church had been locked the night before, and the loss of their equipment would take their online streams offline for the foreseeable future.
"Just the feeling of being violated, more than the stuff is where it's painful," Hand said. "Even though we're a smaller community, we stream all over the world."
The pastors at Celebration Church target different groups of worshipers.
They offer English sermons, Spanish sermons, and Biker Pastor Billy Sauceda delivers sermons for biker groups in the area.
"We are literally a come as you are church," Sauceda said. "We've had people here on Sunday mornings in shorts and flip-flops, and we love them just the way they are."
Sauceda said this is the second time the church has been burglarized in less than a year.
As Las Vegas polcie investigate, Hand bought security cameras to beef up protection at the sanctuary and began calling on people from the community to help them back on their feet.
"More than anything your prayers," Hand said.
They said they would also need any sound equipment, instruments and donations people from the community could spare so they could get back to delivering sermons of faith, love, and inclusion.
"We're really trying to break down the tension we currently see in our culture," Hand said. "Unify the body of Christ with every color, every nation, every tribe."
Children's pastor Lisa Price said her late brother's Takamine guitar was stolen during the burglary, and asked that people keep an eye out for the sentimental item.
"It's kind of been a monument there," Price said, "so if you see that Takamine, if someone is trying to sell it just bring it back or I'll buy it back."
Also, Children’s Pastor Lisa Price said her brother’s Takamine Guitar was stolen during the burglary.
— @SeanKTNV (@seanktnv) September 3, 2019
She said it’s become a sentimental staple on stage.
Keep an eye out for it. pic.twitter.com/j7mS68AzwA
Hand said anyone who would like to contribute can donate to their gofundme page, or visit them at Celebration Church at 3630 N. Rancho Dr. Suite 109.
