INDIANAPOLIS – A pastor’s efforts to open a youth community center was halted Saturday night after thousands of dollars in air conditioner parts were stolen from his west side church.
Ronald Covington, pastor at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church near 16th and Concord Streets, said church leaders have been trying to turn the building into a youth center for years as several teens have lost their lives to gun violence.
In January, 14-year-old Anthony Hughes Jr was shot and killed outside of a Popeye's restaurant near the Haughville neighborhood where Covington’s church is located.
Similar incidents prompted church leaders to perform small renovations to the building as donations were received. Their goal was to open sometime this month before the theft happened.
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The thieves took parts from three units - a compressor out of one and computer boards out of three.
Since the theft, Covington said the youth center's opening may have to wait.
"It's kind of disheartening when we are using all the efforts that we have from a congregation giving and giving to make this happen. This has been months of work and then in one night someone would come and do this,” said Covington.
To replace the stolen parts, the church will need about $3,000 – an amount of money they don’t have. The congregation will have to wait for their next donation and offering supply to replenish before parts can be ordered.
"It's maybe a setback, but we know with the help of the Lord we're going to have a comeback," said Covington.
If you have any information on this case, call Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS.
