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Compassionate residents living near a building shared by African-American and Hispanic congregations have helped clean up damage done by vandals last week.
By JEAN JOHNSON
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 15, 2000
BROOKSVILLE -- When she heard about the shattered windows at a building housing two churches near her home, Dawn Mock immediately said she wanted to help.
Although Mock is not a member of either church and had never met any members, she said she couldn't turn her back on people in need.
She was particularly heartbroken when she discovered that the vandalism, reported July 6, would prevent worship services and a puppet show from being held that weekend.
Two churches hold services at 1325 Brooke Drive on alternate Sundays: Christian Care Ministries Church, an African-American congregation led by Phillip Jones and La Iglesia Pentacostal de la Gran Comision, a Hispanic Pentecostal church pastored by Conrado Pachecho and co-pastor Leo Benitez.
Neighbors noticed the broken windows a.m. July 5, but sheriff's deputies were not notified until July 6, when Pacheco discovered it.
Authorities think the incident occurred the evening of July 4.
As if Pacheco, 53, didn't have enough to worry about, Mock said, his wife fell while helping to clean up the rubble and broke her legs.
Mock's brother-in-law, David Ownbey, also lives near the churches. He said the grounds hadn't been maintained; the grass was very high, and "whoever did it probably thought the building was unoccupied."
Since then, said Ownbey, Pacheco and another pastor have mowed the lawn and repaired and rehung the church sign.
"It's a sanctuary for poor people," said Ownbey, "and it is what it is. It needs work."
Ownbey said he has suggested to members of his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that they help in the renovation.
"This is something I think the Lord would be thankful for," he said.
Although the building was not burglarized, authorities estimated the damage to the window panes, organ, light fixtures and screens at $1,000.
Mock and Ownbey bought new windows and installed them, along with new blinds and screens. Ownbey said the window air-conditioning units were working.
Mock said she, Ownbey and her brother also will paint the building and help raze the unoccupied building behind it.
"I'm not rich, but I want to help," said Mock, a 28-year-old single mother of four. "They're such nice people," she said of Pacheco and Benitez.
She said the churches did not know how they were going to pay for the damages."I felt somebody has got to help these people."
Sheriff's spokeswoman Deanna Dammer said the case is still open, although they have no leads or suspects.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 754-6830 or the anonymous tip line at 797-8477.