http://www.religionnewsblog.com/9367-offbeat_check.html
[Offbeat News] Pastor short of cash, but robbers agree to take a check
Posted: Fri, Nov. 12 2004 Weblogged by ReligionNewsBlog.com
The Kansas City Star (USA), Nov. 12, 2004
http://www.kansascity.com
By Christine Vendel
Lacking cash, a Kansas City church pastor wrote checks for two men
during an armed robbery Wednesday night.
Since the checks were written to each robber by name, police think
they know who the robbers are. Police were looking for the men
Thursday night.
The crime occurred about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Eternal Life
Church, 2600 E. Ninth Street.
The Rev. Tony R. Caldwell told police that a man walked into the
church during Bible study and sat in the back row. Once the study
ended, the man asked to speak with Caldwell.
Caldwell said he invited the man, who had been kicked out of one of
the church's men's programs last week, into his upstairs office.
Caldwell said the man told him he wanted back in the program, which
provides food and shelter to men who are homeless or have recently
been released from jail.
As they talked, a second man, who also was kicked out of the program
last week, walked into the office. The second man had been banned from
the building over theft allegations.
“I knew I had a problem at that point,” Caldwell said. “They both
smelled of liquor, and their eyes were all bloodshot.”
The second man asked for money and said: “It's up to you. I mean, your
congregation could get shot up or your church could burn down.”
Caldwell told them he didn't have any cash.
The second man then said, “You think I'm playing?” and pulled up his
shirt to reveal the handle of a gun.
Caldwell said he was worried about the dozen or so church members
still downstairs.
“I wasn't going to push this issue,” he said.
He offered to write each man a check for $150. The men then left.
Caldwell said the experience would not deter his church from helping
troubled men.
“This just shows there is a problem out there with drugs and alcohol,
and it's not going to change unless someone steps up to help,” he
said.
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