Story Archive

Holier than Thou

Police patrolling at 1:00 a.m. in Canton, Ill., noticed a car parked at the First Church of the Nazarene. The keys were in the ignition, and the engine was warm. Then they found a door of the church was broken in, and went inside to investigate. They caught a burglar red-handed as he was trying to pry open a safe in the office. Police identified the burglar as David R. Utt, 39 — the minister of the New Hope Community Church in town. “He needed money because he was behind on his church’s rent,” police Sgt. Josh Wages said. On the other hand, Utt, who used to be a pastor at another Church of the Nazarene, was able to post $6,000 cash bail to be released the next day. (RC/Peoria Journal-Star) ...Just because his church is poor doesn’t mean he is — which may be why the church is poor.