‘It’s been heartbreaking’: Ponca City church vandalized for 4th time this year

PONCA CITY, Okla. ( KFOR ) — A Ponca City church is heavily damaged by what appears to be vandalism and this isn’t the first, second or third time.

St. John Baptist Church has been vandalized for the fourth time this year, and last week someone broke through the front door and left glass scattered everywhere.

“It was a shock because again we’ve been dealing with it for about the last year on and off. Last year they stole our air conditioning units, and we were already going through that. Then this happened,” said Pastor Raymond Petties of St. John Baptist Church.

“They tore it up pretty bad,” said Pastor Petties. “It’s been heartbreaking, they had took the fire extinguisher and sprayed the whole church. I saw all this white stuff everywhere, I saw my desk turned over, and trash everywhere.”

Petties said the vandals even ripped the door to their financial office clean off before making their way to the basement.

Members said after experiencing hit after hit, they’re worried how the church will recover.

“They in-turn destroyed things over the baptism pool and things that are going to be extremely hard to replace, let alone financially,” said Lee Matts, Deacon and Treasure at St. John Baptist Church.

As for who did it, that remains a mystery because the church doesn’t have surveillance cameras.

“We have talked to people to try and find out who did it, we thought it was some young kids, just didn’t know what kids they were,” said Petties.

Pastor Petties said he has faith his church of 25 years will prevail.

“It’s just another bump in the road and God is going to get us through it,” said Petties.

Pastor Petties said he’s hoping to have everything taken care of by the end of September.

If you’d like to help the church with the cost of the damage, click here .

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