(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) has confirmed a vandal allegedly struck the First Baptist Church of Peaceful Valley in the Security-Widefield area, at the intersection of South Powers Boulevard and Fontaine Boulevard.
According to First Baptist’s Pastor Allen Payne, he received a call from the church’s cleaning crew on Friday morning, Oct. 3, regarding the back door having been broken. Along with the shattered glass door, the alleged vandals tore apart the church’s memory room, which commemorated the lives of past members of the congregation, yanking the framed photos from the walls and trashing the room.
Payne also specified that his desk and office were vandalized, including his military service awards being strewn about, but nothing was actually taken from the church. Despite the disheartening event, Payne said that he’ll use this to inspire further sermons.
“I’m a pretty illustrative preacher. I use everything that happens in life. I don’t just go to the office and get a book out and try to find a message. I try to use life experience to be able to help people. And so I’ll use this as a message or a series of messages, you know, trying to help somebody,” Payne told FOX21…