and the deacons plan to meet to decide whether to file another claim. He said the church also has a large deductible to pay the insurance company, but he worries too about what will happen if the church doesn't have insurance.

 Leads to concerns if anything else happens, we won't be insured. Then we would have to come out of pocket. You know, we're not a big megachurch or have a big congregation, but we have a good congregation. I'm afraid that we would have to go into our finances more and more and more and more. That would impact us even helping the community,  said Jones.

Jones said he knows it is an issue for many local churches. After more than 30 cases this summer, St. Louis Metropolitan Police started taking additional steps to crack down on the thefts, including taking reports in person.

Jones said he believes a scrapyard near the church is where the pieces from the stolen units were taken for scrap metal and copper.

 They may not even get $100 from the scrap out of a $6,000 unit. And that has an impact on the church,  Jones said.

Jones said he does not consider the thefts a policing problem but a community problem, and he wants to encourage people to report them if they see something.

Jones said the theft is a setback for the small church, which works to help the community through programs including Thanksgiving turkey distributions, feeding the community, back-to-school book bag giveaways and outreach to the neighborhood.

Jones said,  I love my congregation. It means they mean a whole lot. They're loving people. You know, they're saved people. They love their community. They love giving to the community. 

Jones said the church normally draws on its fund to help the community, and said further financial strain from the thefts could affect that help, including the upcoming Thanksgiving distribution.

 If they would have came here and just asked me for some money. You know, ask me for something, you know, I have a servant's heart. I have a good heart. I would have went in my pocket and would have just gave it to him,  Jones said.

Jones said the church has set up a GoFundMe page and has other ways for people to donate, which can be found by searching for Siloam Missionary Baptist Church on Facebook. He's hoping people can help them repair from this latest theft.