Thieves steal trailer full of sound equipment from Clovis church

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Members of a Clovis church are singing a little louder to make up for a sound system stolen from them this month.

Do not let the fact that Toby Harrison sings the gospel in sign language fool you.

The Gathering Community Church had its sound system stolen a week ago, but borrowed gear let them project their joy.

"I like the old hymns and some of the worship songs," Harrison said.

She got to hear them Sunday, even though someone stole this small congregation's trailer parked outside another church on Fowler and Tollhouse.

Clovis police are investigating, but nothing's turned up yet.

The $14,000 sound system is the big ticket item now missing, but the thieves also scored a bunch of kids' toys and irreplaceable sentimental things like a hand-carved offering box.

The Gathering's Pastor, Shawn Meyer said, "There was a baptism pool and people write their names on it when they're baptized at The Gathering."

Pastor Meyer leads a group of about 80 members and he says they are incredibly generous, whether intentionally or not.

So his message includes not a drop of anger.

"The opposite of what the community would expect. Undiminished joy. Can't nobody hold me down," Meyers said.

Meyer preached forgiveness and joy Sunday, despite the circumstances, and reminded everyone of the thief on the cross next to Jesus -- the penitent man Jesus promised to deliver to paradise.

"It's everything we had is literally gone. But that's not where our happiness is. Our happiness doesn't live in that stuff and so we move forward. We say 'hey, blessings to you. We'll pray for you. We love you no matter what because our love is not circumstantial either'. And we'll just move forward, get new stuff and keep rocking."

Borrowed sound system or not, this church will not be silent.