World Changers Not Deterred By Tool Thieves

The old saying "no good deed goes unpunished" seems to be coming true for one North Carolina Church group..

Some of the World Changers drove 18 hours to give up the comforts of home and help others with house work, but someone stole some of the equipment they use.

A trailer full of tools parked just outside Brainerd Baptist Church was stolen late Wednesday night, obviously by someone who knew what was inside.

"We had some teenage guys with us, and some college-age guys and I thought they actually picked the trailer up and hid it," said Matthew Carver of Faith Community Church from Waynesville, North Carolina.  But it was no joke.

The church left a trailer full of hand and power tools at the Brainerd Baptist parking lot Wednesday night, so they could visit some local attractions.

The trailer housed tools for three World Changers groups in Chattanooga doing work on local resident's houses.

"Tools on the trailer probably (cost) $5,000, not including the trailer. And the trailer cost about $3,000," said Carver.

About 350 young people along with adult volunteers from cities around the country have been in Chattanooga this week performing home repair work.

Nearly 60 residents are getting home repair like new roofs, painting and carpentry work free of charge.

The World Changers came from places like Arkansas and Oklahoma, 18-hour drives to Chattanooga to help the families like the one we found on Gilbert Street

"We re-shingled the roof and we painted their house," said Miranda Neely.

Hard work, considering the blistering heat the last few days.  But this is a labor of love, helping others and performing their mission of spreading the love of Christ.

Despite the theft, they have a peaceful message for the people who took their tools.

"Jesus loves you and that I will be praying for you and I hope God will show you what you're doing wrong. Hopefully you can go to the church in Brainerd and just bring them back to him," Andrew Wolcott said.

Fortunately these World Changers have some other tools to get them by.

"The gentleman next door accepted Christ the same day the trailer got gone. And if it cost me that trailer then so be it," Carver said.

He says his tools are insured, but the trailer is not covered.

This is the sixth summer that World Changers have helped qualified homeowners of Chattanooga.

The organization was founded in 1990 to help eliminate substandard housing and give young people a hands-on mission experience.