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Seeking Jesus: Child, Virgin Mary Stolen From Nativity Scene
The nativity scene outside a local church has been vandalized, and the thieves made off with figures of baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Posted — UpdatedFAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The nativity scene outside a local church has been vandalized, and the thieves made off with figures of baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Adam Seate, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, said the last time anyone saw saw the wooden cutout of Mary and Jesus was Friday night.
"I first was thinking maybe somebody was doing some work on Jesus, as if Jesus needed any work," Seate said.
Police said they have no leads in the theft and urged anyone with information to come forward.
"We're giving it three days, which is typically how long it takes for Christ to reappear," Seate said.
A sense of humor remains at the church, along with the cutouts of Joseph and the wise men.
"I think the funniest (comment) I heard is maybe she took Jesus and she wants child support," Seate said.
A sign outside the church declares: "You can't steal our Jesus."
Seate said the cutout may be missing, but Jesus remains with church members. "Jesus isn't in the manger scene. He's in our hearts," he said.
He said he hopes somebody can make another cutout of Jesus and Mary, but he doesn't know if it could be done before Christmas.
Meanwhile, he hopes Christ appears to the thieves.
"They may not have Jesus in their heart, but they got him in their home right now," he said. "Maybe they'll begin to recognize that what they did was not the right thing to do."
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