Thieves broke into a church under renovation on San Antonio's north side, snagging over $5,000 in tools and equipment, leaving the congregation shocked but unshaken. The Iglesia Cristiana Emanuel, amid upgrades at their new Jackson Keller Road location, was targeted in a burglary caught on camera on March 25 around the unholy hour of 4:30 a.m. Assistant Pastor Isaac Gallegos received a panicked call from a worker staying at the church who barricaded himself inside, fearing for his safety and witnessing the theft unfold.
The burglars, unaware of their actions being recorded, were captured on the church's newly installed yet unmonitored security cameras. The footage displayed two suspects in the act of the crime. According to a KENS5 interview, Gallegos raced to the scene and promptly alerted the authorities, although their arrival took approximately two hours, during which time the suspects vanished into the early morning darkness.
The Iglesia Cristiana Emanuel, a fixture in the community for over a decade and formerly housed off Vance Jackson Road, had bought the building early this year. Despite the blow dealt by the thieves, the church's spirit and resolve remained indomitable. Assistant Pastor Gallegos, inspired rather than deterred by the incident, articulated a message of resilience and forgiveness. "They might’ve taken our tools but not our morale," he reflected, maintaining an attitude of compassion over condemnation.
Even as the sting of violation lingered, the church's work surged ahead with renewed vigor. Gallegos, perceiving the setback as a mere hiccup, encouraged the congregation to press on, declaring Monday – a day intended for rest – as one to further the cause. "On Monday, we were not going to work but the pastor said no, we’re going to finish up, nobody’s going to stop our work," Gallegos revealed in his statement. The commitment of Iglesia Cristiana Emanuel to its mission and community is unequivocal, with plans to open the renovated space come June 1.
Gallegos reached out to the wrongdoers with an offer toward a better path. "If you are watching this right now, we are here to help you, this is not the way to do it," he said, expressing hope for redemption even for those who trespassed against them. The church counts on insurance to recoup some losses and asks anyone with information about the suspects to contact the San Antonio Police Department.
