Thieves Rob Church During Praise & Worship

NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) - How low can one go? Someone apparently during the middle of morning worship service had their mind on something other than ‘praise and worship,' according to a Nacogdoches Police report.

While church members worshipped close by, thieves were brazenly helping themselves to the Sunday morning offerings at Christian Life Center Church.

The theft occurred shortly after the offering plate had been passed around and the money secured in a strong box in the business office. It has been determined that the amount of money taken was less than $500, but that's not the disturbing part said Sergeant Greg Sowell with the Nacogdoches Police Department. He said the fact that someone had the nerve to take the church's money bag at all is unsettling.

"It looks like someone took the bank bag between 11:40 and 12 noon. That's pretty low and pretty bold to take money from the church," Sergeant Greg Sowell with the Nacogdoches Police Department said. "We've assigned an investigator to the case." At this time, there are no suspects.

Police are encouraging anyone with information that might help solve this case to call Crime Stoppers at 936-560-INFO.

Church Employee Stabbed

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - A church employee was stabbed Saturday evening around 7:45 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church in the 2100 block of Collingwood Blvd.

Custodian Anthony Leno was stabbed twice while he took a quick break outside.

"We believe two occupants asked Tony for directions," said Jack Lindberg, a member of the congregation. "Tony, being the guy he is, walked to the car to give them directions. At that point he was stabbed."

Church security guard Anthony Bell knows Leno well. He says it was upsetting to find out what happened to a friend and says the crime is a reflection of the community today.

"It's a bad neighborhood," Bell said. "To have a security guard at the church lets you know it is a sign of the times."

While it may be a sign of the times, by chance Sunday's sermon was entitled: "Facing our Fears," a lesson planned months earlier, but fitting during this difficult time.

"We should be wary, but at the same time we want to be a place where we can project enough love that we can drive some of that hatred and hurt and pain away that makes people act like that," Rev. Robert Anderson said.

Before service members held hands and prayed for their fellow family member, a member they say means so much to the church.

"Without him this doesn't happen. It took four people to get the church ready this morning in what he does by himself. I guess that tells you it all," Lindberg said.

Leno is expected to be okay.

His attacker is described as a Middle Eastern man in his 30s, around 5' 8" and around 160 lbs with black hair and brown eyes.

Witnesses say he drove off in a green Chevy Blazer.

Call CrimeStopper at 419-255-1111 if you have information that can help police.

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One Injured in Church Shooting

Springfield, SC (WLTX) -- Orangeburg County Officials are searching for the person they say shot
a gun outside of a church Sunday afternoon injuring another person.

At approximately 1 PM, Officials say they responded to a shots fired call after someone starting shooting
a gun outside of Oakey Spring Baptist Church. Officials say there was a physical outside the
church between two men resulting in shots being fired. Investigators are still working to confirm the identity
of the gunman.

One person was injured during the altercation with non-life threatening injuries. Witnesses told News19 the church had planned
to hold a meeting at 1 PM to vote on the church's current pastor.

Officials are still investigating.