RUFFIN, N.C. — A North Carolina church is choosing to forgive a man accused of stealing HVAC units from its property and several other churches and businesses across the Triad in recent weeks.
Ruffin Stacey Baptist Church, which is located in the Ruffin community of Rockingham County, was one of several churches that had HVAC units stolen in the string of thefts across three counties. The church is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Southern Baptist Convention.
In late March, sheriff’s offices in Alamance, Caswell and Rockingham counties launched a joint investigation into multiple reported thefts of exterior HVAC units from churches and businesses. Investigators said parts from the HVAC units were later sold for cash.
On April 27, Bradley Richard Hall, 34, of Elon, N.C., was arrested in connection with the incidents and charged with multiple felonies across the three counties. Investigators said they discovered evidence related to the missing items, as well as drugs, while executing a search warrant at Hall’s residence.
Hall’s charges include: two counts of felony larceny, one count of felony possession of schedule 2 narcotics and one count of misdemeanor possession of schedule 3 narcotics in Alamance County; felony breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, two counts of felony larceny and damage to property in Caswell County; and two counts of felony larceny and 10 counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses in Rockingham County.
Terry Larsen, pastor of Ruffin Stacey Baptist Church, said he was on his way to the church office the morning of April 23 when two HVAC units were discovered missing by a church worker and reported to law enforcement.
“Several sheriff’s cars were already in the parking lot when I drove up,” Larsen said. “I don’t usually see that when I drive into the church.”
Larsen said his initial reaction to the news was shock and sadness.
“There was shock and disbelief at first,” Larsen said. “But you can’t help but come to a place where you wonder what’s going on in his world. What’s going on in his life that he would steal from a church? It brought me to a place of sadness.”
Larsen added that he and the congregation are responding with grace, compassion and forgiveness.
“I want him to know we care for him, we love him and we forgive him,” Larsen said. “If he walked into our church on a Sunday morning, I believe he would feel loved, cared for and forgiven. I genuinely believe that. My prayer would be that he would experience the forgiveness and new life that’s found in Christ.”
Larsen expressed similar sentiments in multiple television interviews that aired on local media outlets on Wednesday, April 29, after news of the arrest was released. Larsen said a number of church members expressed their appreciation for his message.
“Several people thanked me for what I said,” Larsen said.
He added that the church’s HVAC units were covered by insurance and are already in the process of being replaced.
In addition to Ruffin Stacey Baptist Church and St. James Baptist Church in Rockingham County, Hall is also accused of stealing from Crossway Church and Gilliam Primitive Baptist Church in Alamance County; and Bucky’s Grocery and Camp Springs United Methodist Church in Caswell County, according to published reports.
Hall is being held in the Caswell County Detention Center under multiple secured bonds from each county. He has multiple court appearances scheduled in the coming weeks.
Authorities said the investigation in the case is ongoing.
This article originally appeared in the Biblical Recorder.
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