KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The pastor of a small church in Martin City, Missouri, said he's grateful to two good Samaritans who tried to help his congregation just days before Christmas.
"We just bought it," said Pastor Darwin Neal Sr., talking about his church's new van.
Neal is the pastor at Anointed House of Glory. The church bought the red 1994 Ford Econoline for $1,500 in October. It was purchased to help children get to church services.
But, during last Sunday's snow storm, the van was stolen. Neal said didn't realize it was gone until Wednesday.
"Our snow removal guy had cleaned off the parking lot and I didn't even think the van was missing," Neal said.
Days went by and they saw no sign of the van until a phone call a few days later.
"A young man called and said, 'Hey, you missing a van?' I said, 'Yes sir,' and he said, 'I think I found your van,'" Neal said.
Mountain bikers saw the van on Sunday and posted on Facebook asking if someone knew to whom the van belonged.
"Some buddies had posted a picture out here and I knew the area. I recognized it off the news article you guys had posted," said Joseph Dickerson.
He's the man who called Neal.
On Monday, Neal went along with Joseph Dickerson and his brother Timothy Dickerson to see the van again for the first time.
He was shocked the vehicle was only about ten minutes away from the church in the middle of the woods.
Unfortunately, thieves took the battery, catalytic converter and gas tank.
"Oh my god. Look what they did to ignition," said Neal.
The Dickersons wanted to help Neal and the church get the van going.
The brothers bought a new battery and had contacted a few tow companies in case they couldn't get it to start.
"There are evil people and bad things going on. But if you step forward and do what you can, that's what matters and that's what keeps people going," Joseph Dickerson said.
The brothers worked on it, but the van was too badly damaged to be salvaged.
Neal still called the men his angels.
"God still has good people out here. Those who have done this to our church, done it this time of year, I don't believe it goes unpunished," Neal said.
A local tow truck company came to the site and got the van.
Neal said he is worried about how he is going to pick up some of his members who can not drive to church.
Anyone who would like to contact Neal can email him at nealnpray1@gmail.com.
The Dickerson brothers have started a GoFundMe to raise money for the church to buy a new van.
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