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What was meant for evil, God meant for good
On August 2, 2009, following a week of Vacation Bible School during which children brought in donations to help Ruth, an orphan in Manipur, India, thieves broke into our church and stole over $200 from what was raised for Ruth, along with other items.
The response from the public in Connecticut and throughout the United States has been a blessing to us. Donations have come in from many people, which has gone above and beyond the original amount needed to support Ruth. The additional donations will be used to support more orphans in need in Manipur, India. We at the Presbyterian Church of Coventry give our heartfelt thanks and prayers to those who have called and sent letters and donations. We appreciate your generosity of both time and money, and we invite you to visit our church.
That those who committed this act would repent and come to faith in the Lord.
- For the orphans in Manipur, India, that they would come to faith in Christ through the efforts of those in India and those who support them, and the Tombing family that needs support both spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially to run the orphanage.
Stolen Bible School Funds Donated Five-Fold
POSTED: 11:37 pm EDT August 10, 2009
UPDATED: 11:50 pm EDT August 10, 2009
COVENTRY, Conn. -- Church officials say a break-in at the Presbyterian Church of Coventry turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
More than $200 raised by children at Vacation Bible School was stolen from the church last Sunday. The funds were raised to help an orphan named Ruth living in a village in India.
After news outlets, including Channel 3, reported on the theft, residents from across the state and from as far away as Florida, volunteered to help.
The church has received letters and checks to help replace the stolen funds.
As of Monday, the church had received nearly $1,100, more than double what they had originally planned to send to India.
"On Saturday I had a call from a man in Florida, he had seen our story, was touched, and said, ‘I want to send you a check," said Amy Hauser, who runs the Bible school. Hauser said that the children will be able to help other orphans in Manupur, India as well as Ruth.
"We couldn't have planned this," she said. "It's absolutely a blessing in disguise. God makes good out of evil, and this definitely good."
http://www.wfsb.com/news/20352323/detail.html
Good Samaritans Turn Church Misfortune into Godsend
More than $1,000 raised in the wake of $200 theft
By AMANDA RAUS
Updated 1:30 PM EDT, Mon, Aug 10, 2009
When thieves broke into Presbyterian Church of Coventry they stole a laptop, blank checks and more than $200 that Bible school students collected to help an orphan named Ruth who lives in India.
Things looked bleak until good Samaritans -- owners of Statewide Home Improvement -- stepped forward an hour after learning about the church's misfortune from NBC Connecticut. They wrote a check for the whole amount, $218.
More good Samaritans have continued to make donations and it now seems the church will be able to help two more orphans from Manipur, India.
As of Sunday, the church had collected $1,000 and more donations are coming, representatives of the church said.
"I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern and love for Ruth," Amy Hauser, a director of the Vacation Bible School said in an e-mail. "With all this money collected we can sponsor Ruth and 2 other orphans for an entire year!"
The money replaces what the students raised by bringing in coins every day.
"I'm truly touched by the generosity of people within an hour of hearing about the story. Words can't express my gratitude. The outpouring of love and concern is beyond what I ever expected to happen with this newscast," said Hauser last week.
COVENTRY: Church Funds For Orphan In India Stolen
August 7, 2009
Someone broke into the Presbyterian Church on Trowbridge Road over the weekend and stole money that had been raised for an orphan in India.
Senior Pastor Brad Evans said that children in last week's Vacation Bible School raised $522 for a girl named Ruth who lives at an orphanage in Manipur, India. The money would have paid for her food, clothing, medical care and schooling for a year, he said.
But the burglar or burglars found the money in one of the offices and took $218 in bills, leaving behind the coins, he said.
Coventry Police Chief Mark Palmer said that forensic evidence collected from the scene is being tested.
A laptop computer and other office items were also stolen, he said.
Evans said that members of his congregation have visited the orphanage in India and helped provide water and other services.
"This is the first time we've sponsored a child in this way," he said. "Last year we brought them clothing - T-shirts, pants and socks."
- Hilda Munoz
http://www.courant.com/community/coventry/hc-copdigbrf0807.art0aug07,0,4721155.story
Good Samaritan Changes Church's Misfortune
By AMANDA RAUS
Updated 7:01 AM EDT, Fri, Aug 7, 2009
Just an hour after sharing the story of the Presbyterian Church of Coventry, a good Samaritan came forward to help the church overcome its misfortune.
On Sunday, thieves broke into the building.
"They broke into this office. You can see they hammered away at the key, the lock where the frame was," Pastor Brad Evans said as he showed the damage left behind.
They stole a laptop and blank checks. But what is most disturbing is that they stole more than $200 that the Bible school students collected for an orphan named Ruth who lives in India.
"They brought in coins each day. Each day we would have a contest to see what kids could bring in the most. We divided it up, like Yankee, Red Sox fans, and who has pets, who doesn't have pets," said Mark Popovitch, one of the directors of the Vacation Bible School.
When the owners of Statewide Home Improvement saw the story on NBC Connecticut, they immediately wanted to help and wrote a check for $218.
"It just kind of gets you in the heart when you see something like that, showed the poor girl up on the TV. You know, someone needed to do something. I figured we were in a good position so we did," said Maximillian McQuillen of Statewide Home Improvement.
The check replaces the money that was stolen from the church, so now the students have enough money to send to Ruth in India.
"I'm truly touched by the generosity of people within an hour of hearing about the story. Words can't express my gratitude. The outpouring of love and concern is beyond what I ever expected to happen with this newscast," said Amy Hauser, another director of the Vacation Bible School.
NBC Connecticut has received several calls from people wanting to donate. The church says all donations will go to Ruth or other children in India. If you'd like to donate, you can contact the church at 860-742-7222.
First Published: Aug 6, 2009 9:23 PM EDT