Local Church Pleads for Help After the Theft of Their Shuttle Bus
A Devastating Theft
In a shocking turn of events, a local church in Kansas City, Missouri found their locked and gated driveway condensed to rubble, and their community shuttle bus stolen. The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, located at 8310 Holmes Road, is now desperate for help as the vital bus services that transported community members in need has been abruptly halted.
Upon arrival for the Sunday service, church members were taken aback by the chaos. Surrounding area was strewn with debris both from the stolen van and the gate that had been forcefully broken down. Church member Victoria Anderson recounts, “The gate was busted. There was debris from the car, from the van that was stolen, all spewed throughout the property.” Minister Kevin Patterson, still finding it hard to believe, adds, “The first thing that hit me was, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ It was just like, ‘Why would you come to a church and steal the van?’”
Preceding Events
Unfortunately, this theft follows a series of similar offences that the church has been grappling with. Offenders had previously stolen air conditioning units and other valuable items. To curb this recurrence, the church had recently installed a fence around the property. “The fence that we didn’t have,” Anderson said. “We just installed the fence to try and add to the security because we’ve had individuals come [and] take our air conditioning units that we’ve had. We’ve come against quite a lot of conflict lately.”
The Stolen Shuttle Bus
The stolen vehicle is described as a 2009 white Ford 26-passenger shuttle bus, branded with the church’s name, logo, and phone number on both sides. While the church could not provide a photo of the bus, they urge the public to be on the lookout for it, saying “It’s an unmissable bus. It’s very large.” If anyone spots the missing bus, they are asked to urgently contact the church or the local Police Department.
The Church’s Determination
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, church members remain steadfast and resilient. Minister Patterson asserts that although there will be challenges, they will continue serving their community as best they can. “We know there’s going to be challenges to try and deter us, but we know that we have to be resilient,” he said.
Similarly, Anderson holds firm, “We are not deterred. We are even more determined to stand sure-footed on the mission that we believe God has given us: to help the people of Kansas City.”
Any information on the missing bus can be given directly to the church at (816) 363-7160 or through their website Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ.
