A Detroit church that assists the community through worship, education and training is in need of help itself.
"We had break-ins two weekends in December, including Christmas Eve and then two more times in January," said Rev. Matthew Bode of Genesis Lutheran Church.
The church is located at the corner of E. Grand Boulevard and Mack on the city's east side.
An emergency exit door was damaged as well as interior doors. Microphones, telephones, televisions and computers were stolen during the break-ins. Those items are essential to services the church provides, according to the pastor.
"Almost exclusively educational equipment that we use to help people better themselves in this neighborhood," Bode said. "Training, education, organizing, those are the things that we are known for, that we're good at, and those modern tools that we use are not at our finger tips right now."
The cost of repairs and replacement of the stolen items is estimated at between $4,000 and $5,000. Bode said the church is reluctant to make an insurance claim for fear that their premiums would go up dramatically.
Instead, the church has started a fundraising effort to recover from break-ins. A GoFundMe page has been established for donations.
