Last week, megachurch pastor Joel Osteen's Houston church was victim to a $600,000 robbery, with cheques and cash reported stolen from a safe.
No arrests have been made so far, but the sheer amount of donations that had been stolen offers insight into the church's annual revenue.
CNN reported: "Incredibly, all of the money was from one weekend's donations, the church says." By multiplying $600,000 by 52 weeks, the sum comes to $32 million.
The money reported stolen did not include donations made via electronic methods.
The church released a statement following the theft. "It is important to note this was not an electronic data breach, but was instead limited to donations made in the services on March 8 and 9, 2014. You were not affected if you put your offering in a drop box, you gave online or through other electronic means, or you made a bookstore purchase."
Collection money was placed in the safe as usual following last weekend's services, but an employee reported a break in on Monday. The Church was quick to release a statement in which they assured members that they are cooperating with the police and that the tithes were insured.
"We were heartbroken to learn today that funds were stolen from the church over the weekend," the church stated.
Lakewood Church is the largest Protestant church in the US, with an average weekly congregation of over 43,000 and services broadcast in over 100 countries around the world.
Osteen is also a bestselling author and televangelist, known to many as 'the smiling preacher'.
"The integrity of our congregants' information is of utmost importance to us. And, we would like to thank you for your continued support," the statement concluded.
A total of $200,000 in cash and $400,000 in cheques were stolen, but as yet have not been recovered.
