The members of Beulah Baptist Church near Turkey spent their Sunday service without water or air conditioning courtesy of some thoughtless bandits who tore through wiring and stole copper piping over the weekend.

The crooks damaged three air conditioning units and stole copper piping from under the church and its fellowship hall sometime between late Thursday evening and Sunday morning.

“We were surprised when we saw it,” said Tina Johnson, minister of children and youth at the church. “I’m just surprised that someone would do something like that to a church.”

The small church, which is over 200 years old, was without water and air during Sunday’s church service and officials estimate that it could be weeks before it is back to normal.

“We did our service like the olden days,” Johnson said with a laugh. “And, you know what? We are going to be OK. We are still here living God’s word — God’s work is still being done.”

Right now, church officials are awaiting insurance adjusters to come in and evaluate the damages, certain to bring a financial setback to the small church and its congregation, which varies from 30 to 40 members each Sunday.

“What is bad is they came in and tore out wiring and piping to a new air conditioning unit we purchased a few months ago,” said Johnson. “The newer one was a complete loss, and we are hoping that the other two aren’t; we just don’t know right now. We are hoping that we will be able to repair them. We are just a small church, and it is going to take us a while to get back on our feet.”

Johnson said the thieves also cut copper pipe out from under the fellowship hall, as well as a propane tank (used for heat in the winter) that leads to the main church building.

“We are just lucky that they didn’t know what they were doing; it could have been much worse,” she said. “They could have actually got into the church and did so much more damage — It is just going to be tough financially since we just paid for the other air conditioning unit. But we truly feel like God is going to take care of it for us.”

Ironically, Johnson and her Vacation Bible School class recently raised money for another church that was broken into and vandalized a few months ago.

“I can remember looking at the kids and saying to them, what if something like that had happened to this church, the church we all loved?” she said with emotion. “Then, here we are, a few weeks later and it really has happened to us.”

While it would be easy and understandable to show hate and disdain for the one who took those comforts away from the church, the congregation has done something you don’t see everyday — they have turned the other cheek.

Johnson, whose husband, Danny, is the pastor at the church, noted that members have prayed for souls of the criminals responsible for all the damage.

“We are still praying for them,” she said. “We realize with the way the economy is, people are desperate. But to damage a church and have no respect for God’s house just shows you that they do not have a relationship and don’t know Jesus. They need our prayers, and we hope that they will find their way.”

When asked if she had a message for the suspects, Johnson said, “They need to know that despite what they have done and what choices they made, God still loves them. They have to learn to have respect to be a better person; we understand that, which is the reason why they remain in our prayers.”

Suspects in the case have not been identified. The Sampson County Sheriff’s tipline is 910-564-5261.

For more information on the church call 910-990-0694.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.