Over the past few months, our church building has been targeted.

We’re unsure who is doing it. Perhaps it’s some person from the surrounding neighborhood. Perhaps it’s just a random person who drives by. It could also just be a teenager from the High School down the street.

We’re unsure what the motivation might be. This person might be angry at God. This person might have been slighted by a religious institution. This person might not have any motivation other than “fun” at our expense.

What we do know is glass shards have flown. On at least four occasions this person has driven by the building and fired BB’s at our glass door. One time it left the doors shattered, sending shards down a hallway some 30 yards away. Even now the door sits with 8 shatter marks from BB’s.

As I have contemplated this issue and this person, several lessons have come to mind:

1)    God sees and knows (Hebrews 4:13). While we have involved the police and have security cameras up and running, we’ve yet to identify our shooter. However, even if we never catch this person, he/she has never been hidden from God’s sight. God knows exactly who this person is and every inner detail. And, unless this person repents, God will bring vengeance for such actions (Romans 12:19).

2)    Souls are involved (Matthew 28:19-20). One point we’ve considered is, “Will we do if we catch this person?” Will we press charges? What if this is some teenager? Do we want this to become part of a permanent record? No matter what the future course is, we are acutely aware that we are dealing with a soul. It’s possible that forgiveness from us could display the love of Christ and lead this person to Him. While we don’t know what we will do if we catch this person, we do know that we care much more about the person’s eternal soul than we would ever care about the broken door.

3)    It’s just stuff (2 Peter 3:10). The glass can be replaced. The door can be repaired. At the end of the day, our building is just a structure, and this structure will be a part of the great bonfire on judgment day. Thus far all of our people are safe and that is what truly matters.

One way or another, this issue will be resolved. In the meantime, please be praying for this situation. Be praying for wisdom. Above all, be praying for this person’s soul.

Brett Petrillo