Who took Kayla? Police say a 10-year-old girl who was snatched from a church service in Texas sparking a nationwide amber alert is in 'grave danger'

  •  Kayla Gomez, 10, vanished from a prayer service in town of Bullard, Texas
  •  Cherokee County Sheriff James Campbell said she was a 'sweet, little girl'
  • Wellwishers last night held a vigil for the young girl praying for her safety 

By Chris Summers For Mailonline

Published: 11:32 EDT, 3 November 2016 | Updated: 06:36 EDT, 4 November 2016

The Amber Alert was put out on Wednesday after Kayla had been missing for 24 hours

A 10-year-old girl has been missing from Texas for almost 48 hours, triggering a nationwide Amber Alert.

Kayla Gomez was taken from the First Assembly of God church in the town of Bullard while with her family, who were attending a prayer service.

Authorities believe she was abducted by a stranger and could be in 'grave danger.' 

Police search dogs are combing the area, just south of Tyler, and law enforcement agencies say they are very concerned about Kayla. 

Cherokee County Sheriff James Campbell said: 'The family seems to be a very good, hard-working, religious family with no problems.' 

He described Kayla as a 'sweet little girl, just as cute as she could be' and said: 'We have no reason as to why she would have been abducted if she was.'

Kayla, who has black hair and brown eyes, was wearing a black t-shirt and a peach-colored skirt when she was last seen on Tuesday night.

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Kayla Gomez was taken from the First Assembly of God church in the town of Bullard while with her family, who were attending a prayer service

Last night people in Bullard, Texas, held a vigil for Kayla Gomez

People pray during a community prayer service for missing child Kayla Gomez, 10, on Wednesday in front of the city hall in Bullard, Texas

On Wednesday night people conducted a vigil outside the city hall in Bullard. 

Bullard City Manager Jay Abercrombie said: '(There are) a lot of mixed emotions for a small community like ours. Shock is one of the main things.' 

 All children are precious, and it hurts when it's really close to home
Marissa Boerger 

Marissa Boerger told WLOX: 'All children are precious, and it hurts when it's really close to home.' 

Mrs Boerger, whose children go to school with Kayla, said: 'This is not a Baptist thing, it's not a Catholic thing or a Church of Christ thing, it's our community and people of faith who believe in prayer, coming together for a joint effort to pray.' 

Prayers were said last night outside the town hall in Bullard by local people hoping Kayla would be found safe and well

A Facebook page, Help Find Kayla Gomez, has been set up and a message posted on it last night asked people to wear her favorite color, pink, on Thursday.

It said: 'We will be adding pink ribbon to our vehicles also - on back windshield wiper or antennae until she is brought home safely. We encourage you to do the same!'

Facebook user Nia Cabrera replied: 'I feel so helpless.

'I wish I could help find her and search for her. I'm checking constantly on updates on her whereabouts.

'I have Kayla and the Gomez family in my prayers constantly throughout my night and during the day. May God hear our prayers and bring this little girl home safely.'

Social media has been alive with appeals to find Kayla (pictured)

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