Chicago Church Gives Congregants $500 Each to Spend for Good

Churchgoers at the LaSalle Street congregation received a surprise this month. They each received a check for $500 with instructions to go out and do something good with it. 

The money was a result of a real estate windfall. Back in the 1970's, LaSalle Street and three other local churches had helped support a multi-ethnic, multi-income housing development. The development was sold in June in what is now a pricey neighborhood and LaSalle Street received $1.6 million. Senior Pastor Laura Truax and church elders decided to take a tenth of that money and give it to 320 members and regular attendees.  The church as a whole will decide to what to do with the rest of the money.

Recipients were asked to pray about how they could best spend the money. People who received checks have started sharing their thoughts about using the money on and "idea wall" in the church basement. A groups of doctors suggested sending the money to an Ebola clinic in Sierra Leone. Others plan to support CeaseFire, an anti-violence group. Congregants vary from the wealthy to the homeless, so if someone wants to use the money for rent, that is okay too.

If your church gave you $500 and told you to spend it for "good", how would you spend the money? You can answer in the comment section below.