Theft of Building Materials Leaves Small Church Reeling
A small Fort Worth church says it discovered this weekend that over $200,000 worth of building materials meant for a new sanctuary had been stolen. The Longvue Avenue Baptist Church had been fundraising for two years to move to a new building, and the theft has left the congregation in shock.
Background of the Church and the Theft
Longvue Avenue Baptist Church had been planning to relocate to a new building due to the current one being old and in need of costly repairs. The church found a buyer for its old building, purchased land near Chapel Creek in Fort Worth, and bought the materials to construct a new sanctuary, including building metals and rolls of insulation. They were just waiting on permits and approval from the city.
Fort Worth Police Department spokesperson Daniel Segura confirmed Tuesday that the department is investigating a report of the theft of a disassembled steel building, which appeared to have occurred Saturday. Pastor Brian Fisher told The Dallas Morning News that the church sees about 80 people every weekend, and congregants have told him they’d put summer vacations on hold, skipped trips to the amusement park, and budgeted retirement checks so they could help fund the church’s relocation.
Impact of the Theft on the Church
The theft has left the church congregation in a state of shock and disappointment. Pastor Fisher said, “We’re not a big church as you can tell, and not a real wealthy church, but we really had a mind to sacrifice and give and make this happen. To have it taken away — it hurts, and it just shakes people to their core, myself included.”
On Saturday, Fisher said he went to the site and the materials were gone. He said the first thing he did was pray. The church couldn’t afford to insure the building materials, and they have started a GoFundMe to help recover what they’ve lost. “Who would have ever thought that someone would steal a building?” he said.
This image shows metal building materials the church was planning to use to construct a new sanctuary.
Courtesy of Longvue Avenue Baptist Church
Investigation and Aftermath
The Fort Worth Police Department is currently investigating the theft, and the church is trying to come to terms with what happened. The congregation is trying to stay positive and focus on the future, but it’s clear that the theft has had a significant impact on the church.
The church is now relying on donations to help recover what they’ve lost. The GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise funds to replace the stolen materials. The church is also reaching out to the community for support and prayers during this difficult time.
Conclusion
The theft of building materials from Longvue Avenue Baptist Church is a devastating blow to the congregation. The church had been working towards relocating to a new building for two years, and the theft has set them back significantly. However, the church is staying positive and is relying on the support of the community to help them recover from this setback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened to the building materials?
A: The building materials, worth over $200,000, were stolen from the church’s construction site.
Q: How is the church coping with the theft?
A: The church is trying to stay positive and is relying on the support of the community to help them recover from the theft.
Q: How can people help the church?
A: People can help the church by donating to the GoFundMe page set up to replace the stolen materials. They can also offer prayers and support to the congregation during this difficult time.
Q: Is the church insured against theft?
A: No, the church couldn’t afford to insure the building materials.
Q: What is the next step for the church?
A: The church is currently waiting for the police investigation to conclude and is trying to come up with a plan to replace the stolen materials and continue with the construction of the new sanctuary.
