It's not everyday envelopes with five thousand dollars are handed out...but that's just what happened at First Church of the Nazarene in Bloomington during weekly services.
The church is giving each member of their congregation an envelope with anywhere from 5 to 100 dollars...
Church members are then supposed to try make a profit with that money.
Church Pastor Scott Sherwood says he came up with the idea through this weeks biblical story about a master who gives his servants various amounts of money to keep for him while he's away on a trip.
When he returned the servants gave back his money and present him with an increase on his investment.
Pastor Sherwood says he was uncomfortable giving the sermon.
Church Pastor Scott Sherwood says, "Here I am talking about going out and making an increase while we have our neighbors to the south of us suffering to such a degree and began to struggle with that and pray about that and then it hit me that what better time is there for us to make all we can then when the need is so great."
260 envelopes were handed out at the services on Sunday... And ideas were already brewing.
Church member Paula Bard says, "I love to cook and I thought wow maybe I could invite all my neighbors in for some kind of a meal and then all the, you know whatever they want to give."
Some decided to have a bake sale while others are going to buy stamps and envelopes and send letters to people.
Church member Becky Max says, "A bunch of things are running around in my mind as to what I can do with it I don't have the foggiest idea. I have no solid idea but I'll think of something...I will."
Church members will report back on January 31st to turn in the money and talk about what they did with it.
All the money raised will go to Haiti.
The church band even wrote a special song for the event.
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