A San Antonio church is responding with forgiveness after surveillance cameras captured a man allegedly breaking into the facility and stealing equipment in the early morning hours, according to local news reports.
KENS 5 reported that the break-in happened around 3 a.m. on April 28 at CRC Christian Revival Church on the city’s south side. Surveillance footage reportedly showed the suspect entering the property multiple times and taking sound equipment, instruments and cash from the church.
“The first thing he did was he broke open the donation box that belongs to the Harlandale Methodist Church,” senior pastor Luis Martinez told KENS 5. “Then he entered into our sanctuary down here and he stole a couple of mixers from us, and then on his way out, I think he stole also a couple of keyboard[s] and some speakers.”
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“That belong to the other congregation that we share the sanctuary with,” Martinez added.
According to San Antonio police, the suspect broke into the church, left the scene and later returned. The reported losses, including vandalism damage to a back door, totaled about $1,500.
Despite the theft, Martinez chose to respond with compassion rather than anger.
“Somebody who’s lost,” Martinez said when asked who would steal from a church.
The pastor also reflected on his own past experiences and why he believes mercy matters.
“I was a person that was out there in the street, you know, stealing, hustling, so I know what it feels like to be on the other side, and I wouldn’t want anything less than mercy and forgiveness extended to that person,” Martinez said.
The suspect has not been identified or arrested. Martinez said he hopes the person responsible has a change of heart.
“If he’s watching this and if anybody knows any information on that, that they feel moved to reach out and do the right thing to support CRC Christian Revival Church,” he said.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
