A Seymour minister is praying for the thief who burglarized his church and took about $40 over the weekend.

Pastor Rick Prather of Christ Covenant Church said his wife reported the missing cash to police at 8:01 a.m. Sunday after a member of the church noticed a broken window.

Prather said they had just arrived to prepare for Sunday’s service at the church at 1005 S. Poplar St.

“I was disappointed, and I was upset that someone would break into the house of the Lord and steal from him,” Prather said. “I’m just glad that, when we came, they weren’t still there.”

Police Chief Bill Abbott said an officer took a report and believes a window was broken by the thief.

However, he said those involved could have entered through another window that was left open.

Prather told police that the missing money was taken from an office drawer. He also said a tithe and offering box in the sanctuary was smashed, but he doesn’t believe any money was in it.

He also told police the burglar went through a jug used to raise money for mission work that was located in the fellowship hall. Drawers in the Sunday school room also had been searched.

Prather believes that whoever committed the crime likely knew the layout of the church because the thief went directly to where the money was located. Also, a fork from the church was found that was used to pry open the missions jar.

“They didn’t just ransack everything. They knew exactly where the silverware was,” Prather said.

After the church was cleaned up from the shattered window, the morning service — including a prayer about the crime — was conducted.

“I told the congregation to pray and forgive,” he said. “We pray that they (the thief) will get saved and turn from the way that they are going and turn to Christ.”

Abbott said Monday there are no suspects at this point. Officers took fingerprints and DNA from the church, and those will be sent to a lab. 

If caught, the thief could face burglary and theft charges, Abbott said.

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Anyone with information on the break-in at Christ Covenant Church is encouraged to contact Seymour Police Department at 812-522-1234.

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