SBTC church plant perseveres after equipment trailer stolen

WEST COLUMBIA   The first Sunday of September brought a challenge—and an opportunity to overcome adversity—for West Oaks Church, an SBTC church plant. 

On Friday, August 30, church leaders realized one of the church’s equipment trailers had been stolen. Inside the stolen trailer were various signs and sound equipment, a television, printers, and children’s check-in stands—all valued at around $8,000-$9,000 dollars, according to Pastor Colby Wallace. 

Despite the theft, the church stepped up—with a little help from other nearby churches and others who loaned tables, mic stands, and other equipment to help West Oaks Church get through the weekend. After hustling to replace or find other ways to perform the functions of the church that Sunday, Wallace said he was pleased to see a larger-than-expected number of attendees and visitors show up for the holiday weekend service.

“We adjusted pretty well, and our staff and our people stepped up and we made it work,” Wallace said. “In spite of what happened, everything went very smooth and it was very encouraging to see the support we had.”