BRISTOW, Okla. — At 10:30 p.m. on July 21, Senior Pastor of Bristow United Methodist Church said Bristow Police arrested four teenagers for the vandalism inside the church.
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Trashed, damaged, and now closed - the shortcut description of Bristow United Methodist Church.
After a look at the surveillance video, police suspect the vandals could be young teenagers.
“Unfortunately, in-person service will stop for now,” Senior Pastor Kira Calhoun said.
The church resumed regular service for only a month before the break-in. Pastor Calhoun said the group slipped in through the window of the church’s baby room. What happened next speaks for itself.
“The damage happened last night between four and ten-ish,” Calhoun said.
Both floors are trashed. Most of the mess is in the children's education wing.
As she walked through, Calhoun said, “There’s paint on the walls, vulgar words on the walls, glass broken, stained glass broken.”
Calhoun even has to tread through the shards to get in and out of her office, but she is still optimistic.
“We’re going to rise up from it,” Calhoun said.
The carpet is ruined. They will need about 200 new bibles and hymnals, and a new coat of paint on most walls.
Church member Randy Kizzia said, “I'm thankful they didn’t do very much damage here, in the sanctuary.”
To Kizzia, it is not just a building. Finding the church was his miracle.
“I would probably go back to drinking like I was before. So, it has transformed me in a miraculous way,” Kizzia said.
Kizzia is an 11-year member of the the church and 11 years sober.
“I don’t want ill will on whoever did this. I just want them to know God like I have,” said Kizzia.
While police investigate, locks to the church have been replaced and notification sent to the insurance company.
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