Nelse Nelson, New Bethel Temple COGIC deacon, said copper thieves caused so much damage it looked as if a bomb had exploded. (Photos by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell)

When Pastor Aaron Litzsey preached his sermon entitled “Break the Bondage” last Sunday, he never dreamed that thieves would target New Bethel Temple COGIC for a brazen copper burglary.

After all, his message was one of compassion for those who engage in crime as a way of life.

“I explained that the goal of this church is to break down our church walls and reach out to the residents of this community,” he said. “Crime and substance abuse continue to plague Orange Mound and surrounding areas. We have the answer in Jesus Christ, and He is the key to a better quality of life. We are His witnesses. This is what our ministry is all about.”

Thieves brought New Bethel Temple face-to-face with the problem when all but two of its 16 rooftop air conditioner units were ripped apart and stripped of copper content.

“I’ve just been a member of the deacon board for three weeks,” said Nelse Nelson. “And I came up here Monday about one o’clock to check on how the job was going. That’s when I saw all this metal laying all over everywhere. I just couldn’t believe someone would do a thing like this to the church.”

Pastor Litzsey was out of town when he got a call about the theft.

 “I was in shock, and I guess I’m still in shock,” Litzsey said. “I won’t get back home until Saturday. We will see then where we are and what we  need to do.”

Litzsey has only been New Bethel’s pastor for three months.

“Pastor Litzsey just got here, and he wants to do so much in this community,” said Nelson. “He has a heart for reaching out to people.

Police still were searching for laborers suspected of ripping off copper from the church’s air conditioning units. Church officials say they forgive the thieves.

Nelson said nothing seems off limits anymore to thieves. “Nothing is sacred. People will do anything. They just don’t care. It’s sad.”

Litzsey said he won’t be deterred from what he believes is God’s mandate.

“There is so much God wants for these people,” he said. “We had already begun community outreach with our free breakfast     every third Saturday of the month. “Community residents are invited to come out and share a meal with us. This theft confirms that practical solutions are needed for this community.”

According to Memphis Police Department Neighborhood Crime Tracker statistics, 145 crimes were reported within a half-mile radius of 3372 Park Ave., where the church is located, in the past month. Sixteen reports of vandalism and 14 home burglaries are included in that number.

Culprits may have been in roofing crew

A local roofer hired to make repairs was at the church Monday morning with a work crew. Sometime after 11 a.m., most of the roofers went to get lunch, leaving a couple of workers behind, according to Nelson.

 After the theft was discovered, the roofer tried contacting the laborers who were left on the property, but told church administrators he has been unsuccessful in doing so. Police are still looking for those persons believed to be responsible.

Copper theft became prevalent two years ago all over the nation. In today’s market, a pound of copper at a metal salvage year fetches $3-$4. Homebuilders have also experienced large-dollar losses because of copper theft. State legislators in Hawaii have made copper theft a felony because it is so widespread.

Damage estimates for New Bethel are well into the six-figure bracket.

‘Orange Mound is still a safe community’

An Orange Mound Development Corporation administrator (OMDC) said although this crime was bad, Orange Mound is still a safe community.

“Except for drug activity and robberies, Orange Mound does not have many instances of shootings and assaults,” said OMDC Executive Director Michael E. Saine. “The economy is in such a bad state that people are turning to behaviors they would not normally do. I’m not making excuses for them, but I believe that is the reason.”

Saine fears a spike in juvenile crime with schools now out for the summer break.

“Our kids need summer programs that will help prepare them for adulthood,” he said. “Playing basketball is okay, but we need to offer them guidance and training. They need to be taught life skills necessary for productive adulthood.”

New Bethel deacon David Marshal, the board chair, said it is uncertain what the recovery effort will entail.

“We are still assessing the damage,” he said. “This is just a temporary setback. It’s not going to stop us.”

Litzsey said roofers were at New Bethel this week because in only three months the church raised $10,000 in a “Raise the Roof” campaign to pay for roof repairs.

“God helped us then, and we are confident He will continue to help us,” he said. “New Bethel will continue to carry the ministry of reconciliation. God forgave us, and we forgive those who are responsible.”