Community Lending Helping Hand After Tulsa Church Hit By Thieves

A church is asking for help after thieves broke in and stole audio visual equipment from the sanctuary and tools needed for a renovation.

The church said insurance can help replace the stolen items, but they need the cash for its deductible, and hope to use additional monies to fix broken windows and improve security.

Wesley United Methodist Church is busy with after school programs for kids in the neighborhood run by the congregation's youth pastor, Chris Beach.

But on top of those programs, he’s also dealing with theft; microphones should be on the mic stand and there is a missing projector and soundboard – just a handful of the things stolen from the church Monday night.

"This took just about everything," Beach said.

Wesley United Methodist Church hopes insurance can replace the stolen items but they need help so they can secure their north Tulsa sanctuary.

Beach said, "When it happens to us, when we get robbed, we just ask other people, we ask the community, 'Hey, help us out so we can help more people."

The congregation has been through a lot; its church burned almost 95 years ago during Tulsa's race riots.

Beach’s message to the thieves, “We pray that God loves you so much, that he's got so much for you. You don't have to take other people's stuff; God's got a lot for you. If you just give your life to Jesus he'll give you whatever you need in life because he's got more than we could ever steal."

So far, $1,000 has been raised. The church has set up an online fundraising site, you can find more information here.