THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410190139
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Religion
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
More than three months after the construction site of a Chesapeake church was vandalized, church members are still trying to raise money to have the damage repaired.
James H. Johnson, pastor of the New Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church, and assistant minister Glenda Kelly said vandals broke windows and painted graffiti on the church's unfinished new building on Old Campostella Road.
The building's tall, dome-shaped glass windows were broken on two occasions between July 12 and 19.
According to a police estimate, the damage amounts to $6,000 to $7,000. An additional $4,000 will be needed to hire a sandblaster to take off the graffiti painted on the brick walls, Kelly said.
``A security guard at the Moose Lodge across from the street heard somebody smashing the windows,'' Kelly said. ``It happened very quickly, a matter of 15 minutes.''
The windows were broken at about 5 or 6 p.m., when there was no one at the site. The graffiti appeared long before that.
``Everybody is watching now,'' she said.
``Police are still investigating,'' Johnson said. ``Our insurance company hasn't given us an estimate.''
Johnson said he hopes construction insurance will cover repairs.
Johnson said church members were upset when they learned about the vandalism.
``They are concerned,'' he said. ``Some feel that we should have finished the building earlier. But they should realize there are financial problems.''
Ground was broken for the new building in 1988. About $200,000 raised through the church has already been spent on the construction, Johnson said.
``We'll need another $250,000'' to finish the building, he said. ``We're still $225,000 short.''
Johnson said church leaders haven't decided whether to borrow the money to complete the project. For now, he said, ``we're continuing what we've done before - to pay as we go.''
Meanwhile, Kelly is planning several fund-raising activities. Among the events are a Goodman-Lloyd Family Day on Oct. 23; a Pre-Queen Contest on Nov. 16; a Queen Contest on Nov. 17; a Johnson Family Day on Dec. 25; and a Jacob's Eight-Colors banquet at a date to be chosen later.
Johnson hopes church members will be able to move into the new building in 1995.
The church's present location is 916 Middle St.
Kelly said the church can't afford to hire security guards to prevent further vandalism at the new site. Nevertheless, he expects the new building to be completed.
``This is the vision of the Lord,'' she said. ``God is building the world. He's the general contractor of the church.'' MEMO: More information about the fund drive is available by calling Glenda
Kelly at 543-4268.
by CNB