Cleanup begins at vandalized church

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Cleanup began at vandalized church Wednesday while church members prayed for the 9 and 10-year-old children charged with the crime.

Adult hands are washing away the work of 9 and 10-year-olds, putting faith in a higher power to find a way to forgive.

Norfolk police say the children who vandalized Christ First Community Fellowship from end-to-end live in the neighborhood. They're all charged with felony vandalism and burglary. Pastor Joe Spear said the children have walked the halls of the church before.

"To know there's five of them involved," said Spear. "It's still just surprising..."

Spear said that the suspects attended vacation bible school and other events, but were not regular attendees.

An eight man Servicemaster of Southside team is painstakingly making progress with the clean-up. They've turned the kitchen -- once cluttered with food and sprayed with ketchup -- into a place to cook once again.

The sanctuary, where police say the children sprayed fire extinguishers on everything, will take the most time.

"All of the books, the hymnals, what have you. It really is a huge undertaking in a sense of the vacuuming," said project manager Chris Osborne.

What insurance does not cover will have to come from the church's tiny congregation. Spear will put his faith to work, for his church and for the children.

"I just hope one day that they understand truly what's happened what they did; it was personal property. I hope they never do it again and learn from this," he said.

Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney spokesperson Amanda Howie said the children will appear before a judge; however, it's too soon to say what punishment they will face. Currently, they are all in the custody of their parents due to their age.

The church held a bible study and prayer service Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

If you would like to provide donations or help the church out in any way, you may contact them or visit them at 133 Woodview Ave., Norfolk.