L.I. Church Gets $3M Lottery Ticket from Member
PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y. (AP) -- A man who scratched off a lottery ticket and realized it was worth $3 million promptly donated it to his church, his pastor said Wednesday.
Pastor Bertrand Crabbe of the True North Community Church of Port Jefferson said the donor, who asked to remain anonymous, said, ``This was why God put the ticket in his hands.''
The state Lottery announced Wednesday that the independent Christian church will get at least $102,225 a year through the year 2028. The amount could be higher if withheld taxes are refunded because of the church's nonprofit status.
The ``Ba Da Bling'' scratch-off ticket was bought July 19 at a card shop in Middle Island, the lottery said. The same day, Crabbe said, the man with the ticket ``called me, invited me to his home, told me he had won and his intentions. He said he wanted to bless the church, that this was why God put the ticket in his hands.''
He gave Crabbe the ticket, and Crabbe claimed the prize on behalf of the 650-member church he founded three years ago. The pastor said the church would give the first year's proceeds to charities including Love 146, which battles human trafficking and slavery.
Starting next year, at least 20 percent will go to charity. Some will go toward a new building for the church, Crabbe said.
What do you think? Would your church accept a gift like this?
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2 comments:
wow, this would be an interesting position to be in as a church. i wonder how Jesus would have responded to this gift, and what he would have done with it? hmm.
I'm not sure that our leaders would "accept" the lottery ticket and cash it on behalf of our members. Why wouldn't the member who won the prize simply donate his winnings year to year as his offering?
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