Pastor says data lost when thief took laptops

Associated Press

It didn't take long for Ohana Baptist Church to replace two stolen laptop computers, but the information they contained may be gone forever.

"What is really hurting us is the lost data that we use with our preschool and with our church," Ohana Baptist's pastor, the Rev. Wayne Surface, said yesterday.

The information, some of which existed only in the laptops, included lesson plans for several dozen preschoolers, most from nearby military families, Surface said.

The pastor appealed to the thief who took the computers Thanksgiving Day to download the data and send it to the church.

Meanwhile, the church was able to replace the two stolen laptops and obtain a third all for the price of one from sympathetic CompUSA. And because of a sale, the church also obtained three printers and other items for free.

The burglar gained access to the church on Pu'uloa Road by prying open a door. The laptops were taken from the church's main offices.

"I think it's a sad commentary that we have that kind of thing happening anywhere, let alone in churches or other organizations that are trying to work with those that are needy," Surface said.