While many Christians are currently observing Lent, a time of, among other things, repentance, some Warsaw churches are trying to forgive.
At different times on Jan. 25, Warsaw Church Of God, Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, Warsaw Baptist Church, St. Anne's Episcopal and Living Stone Ministries were all broken into.
So why do people looking for money or items to pawn pick churches?"I think it's because they're an easy target," said Pastor Jerry Yoder of the Warsaw Church of God, whose church was broken into in the early morning hours of Jan 25.
Warsaw Police Department couldn't comment as all the break-ins are still under investigation.
What those burglaries show is that churches are no different from office buildings, homes or businesses. How the churches deal with the aftermath of those burglaries differ from church to church.
Warsaw Baptist Church was perhaps the hardest hit by the damage caused from a break-in. Debra Hutchinson, the wife of Warsaw Baptist Church Pastor Mark, discovered the damage to the church.
Several doors were damaged, and the church was ransacked.
"They went to every locked door without a window and broke it in," said Hutchinson.
Hutchinson said that paying the deductible for the insurance company will be difficult for her church with a congregation of about 50 people.
Warsaw Baptist recently incorporated itself and took over the mortgage and bills on the building. The church no longer has a bigger church to lean on in times of need.
"We just know in the long run, God has a way of working these things out," said Hutchinson.
The irony for a church like Warsaw Baptist is, the money used to make repairs may have gone to help those in need.
"We know times are hard," said Hutchinson. "Nobody was really surprised. But now the people who come to churches like ours who don't have money for rent or to pay bills or buy diapers, we're tapped out. The effort could have been used elsewhere."
"We prayed for the persons who perpetrated these crimes," said Walnut Creek Pastor Jim MacDonald.
MacDonald said the point of his churches' entrance is to be welcoming to all, and that won't change.
At St. Anne's, Father Dan Martins, who moved to St. Anne's from Stockton, Calif., was surprised by the break-ins.
Martins said that for all he knows, the person or people who broke in may have been there before looking for help.
"It could have been someone who came looking for assistance," said Martins. "It's kind of ironic."
At Living Stone Ministries, Pastor Jeff Prater and members of the church are making repairs themselves. They will also have to replace guitars and wireless sound systems stolen.
While Prater said the church will be fine, the money used to buy materials is still not easy to give up.
"When you're a small church," said Prater, "a couple of hundred dollars matters."
Prater said some church members were a bit angry at first.
"Somebody asked me, 'What kind of person steals from a church?' And I said, 'a thief,'" said Prater. "They don't care who they're stealing from."
Prater echoed the sentiments of the other pastors.
"If someone came to me and said, 'Listen, I'm the person who stole your stuff.' I'd be like, 'OK, what now?' If you're looking to accept Jesus Christ, I'll help you."
