Burglarized North Dakota Church Gets Help from Donors, Fisherman

BURLINGTON, N.D. (AP) — Donors from around the country and a local fisherman have come to the aid of a North Dakota church that was targeted by thieves.

The break-in at Peace Lutheran in Burlington was one of more than a half-dozen church burglaries in the region around Easter.

The thieves took Peace Lutheran's safe. Among the missing items were church records and $300 that children had spent weeks collecting.

Church officials put out a call via social media, and people around the country donated more than $2,100. A few days after Easter, a fisherman found the church records floating in the Souris River, still intact. The church is once again in possession of its records, including marriage certificates and old photographs.

Pastor Emily Nesdahl told KXMC-TV, "It's cool to see how God can use difficult circumstances to do great things."

Police have charged one man in the burglaries and say more charges are expected.

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