Pastor raises concerns over church vandalism
Apastor for the Assemblies of God (AOG) in the Northern division is raising concerns after his church was allegedly broken into and vandalised over the weekend.
Labasa AOG Pastor Manikam Pillay highlighted this after recent reports of another AOG church in Taveuni that was also allegedly broken into in May.
Pastor Pillay said the whole congregation was disturbed during the worship at Naodamu in Labasa on Sunday.
“My wife and I are always the first ones to arrive at the church and when we came we saw the back door opened, the office door broken, three louvre blades missing, a part of the sound system missing and everything in my office turned upside down,” Pastor Pillay said.
“We were informed that a group of men were drinking in the neighbourhood and then they came near the church under the streetlight,” he said.
“During our inspection we found a kitchen spoon which we believe they used it to gain entry.
“Our church building is 30 years old and two times our church had been broken into.
“I had lodged a report at Labasa Police Station on this.
“This is a house of God where people come together to worship.
“Such an act where you find church building damaged and things missing shows that they don’t have any respect.”
Pastor Pillay said those allegedly responsible had robbed them of their moment of worship of God.
“We are requesting the Police officers to patrol this area.”
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that the Labasa Police Station had received a report and a team carried out an investigation yesterday. Edited by Ranoba Baoa