Members of the Gordonville Church of Christ are working to clean up and replace damaged and stolen property after discovering extensive vandalism at the church last Sunday.
Investigators with the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office believe someone may have stayed inside the church for several days before members discovered the damage Sunday, Aug. 2, which stretched through nearly every part of the building.
According to preacher Tommy Hix, vandals apparently made themselves at home inside the church while causing extensive damage and taking a number of items.
Tables, chairs, a sound system, copper wiring and other property were stolen. Communion glass cups were broken, while communion trays and other areas of the church appeared to have been used in connection with drug activity.
The vandals apparently bathed in the church baptistery, and towels used for baptisms were among the items taken. Beer bottles were left hanging from curtains, and church members found what appeared to be drug paraphernalia and burn marks around the pews.
Food was dumped and ground into carpeting, peanut butter was smeared around the building and fire extinguishers were discharged, according to Hix’s wife, Debra.
“It looked like a fire was started when they were cooking their meth,” Debra said. “They used our extinguishers to put it out. Our 105-year-old solid oak pews were covered.”
Diapers and baby wipes were flushed down toilets, causing additional damage.
Three hearing assistance devices used by congregation members were also destroyed. A high chair and changing table will need to be replaced after drug paraphernalia was reportedly found on them.
The building’s air conditioning system was also affected. According to Tommy Hix, the thermostat was turned down far enough that the system froze before space heaters were apparently used to heat the building.
Despite the condition of the church, members did not allow the damage to keep them from worshipping. The congregation held its service outside Sunday and spent the following days cleaning the building in hopes of returning inside for its next service.
“We found a shade tree and had church,” Tommy Hix said. “Then we rolled up our sleeves and went to work.”
The church has insurance, but the cost of the losses may not exceed its deductible.
The congregation hired help for a deep cleaning of the building at an estimated cost of $1,000 and expects additional expenses as damaged and stolen necessities are replaced.
“This is hard for the small congregation,” Tommy Hix said. “We have a lot of elderly members and others facing health challenges and living on limited budgets.”
The damage also dealt a blow to the congregation’s efforts to help others.
The church regularly distributes food and toiletry items to people in need throughout the area. Debra said supplies stored at the church were contaminated during the incident and must now be discarded.
“All they had to do was knock,” Debra said. “We would have helped them. We would have figured out what we needed to do for them. I know they’re in a bad spot, but you didn’t have to tear up the church.”
Church members are now considering additional security measures, including installing game cameras and obtaining internet service that would allow them to add a security system. The church did not have security cameras at the time of the incident.
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate. The Hixes said they have been told investigators have possible suspects, although the sheriff’s office had not publicly identified any suspects as of a KXII report on the incident.
“The sheriff’s office is not telling us much right now,” Debra said. “They say it’s all an ongoing investigation.”
Community members wishing to assist with recovery efforts may send donations to Gordonville Church of Christ, P.O. Box 653, Gordonville, Texas 76245.
The congregation is also seeking food donations to replenish supplies used in its community outreach efforts, as well as assistance replacing its sound system.
Source: Freepik.com