Morenci Pastor Donna Galloway holds out hope for Skelton brothers: 'Bring the boys home'

AP PhotosFrom left to right: Tanner Skelton, Alexander Skelton, and Andrew Skelton

Donna Galloway, pastor of the Morenci United Methodist Church, maintains hope that

will return to her community and congregation, and says it is time for their father to reveal their location.

"They are very friendly, happy, imaginative creative little boys, and we love having them around," Galloway told host Paul W. Smith this morning on WJR-AM 760.  "They are a bright spot."

John Skelton, who remains jailed in Ohio and is fighting extradition to Michigan, reportedly

that his sons are safe at an undisclosed location. Roxanne and William Skelton said he told them he is protecting the boys from their mother, Tanya Skelton,

who he claims had been sexually abusing them.

But Galloway, who also had a chance to visit John Skelton in jail, said she is angry with the grandparent's for not demanding the boys' location if they, in fact, believed his story.

Listen to Galloway:

"The entire world knows now what his fears and his concerns are, so bring the boys home," she said. "Tanner, Andrew and Alexander should not have to endure anything else. ...There's no danger to them now. There was never any danger to them in the beginning.  Tanya would never harm her boys in any way, shape or form."

Tanya Skelton reported the boys missing on Nov. 26 after their father failed to return them from a court-ordered visitation at his home in Morenci.  Police have said John Skelton, charged with parental kidnapping, lied to investigators when he said he gave the boys to a female acquaintance to hand over to their mother before he tried to commit suicide.

Volunteers and authorities have searched fields, rivers, ditches and vacant buildings in both southern Michigan and northern Ohio since the boys disappeared, a process that has consumed Morenci, a town of about 2,000 residents 75 miles southwest of Detroit.

Investigators have said they don't expect a positive outcome to the case, but Galloway said she remains optimistic.

"There is always hope," she said.  "That is who I am. Because of my beliefs there is always hope."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.