HASLETT, Mich. — Divine intervention? Or just plain luck?
No matter what the circumstances, a Michigan church is $70,000 richer courtesy of the Michigan Lottery.
The Covenant Life Worship Center and its 25 members in Haslett, Mich. had one of the second-prize tickets in the Lucky 7s raffle held May 4.
The $10 ticket was purchased at a convenience store in Haslett, five miles northeast of downtown Lansing. The lottery Web site says the odds of a single ticket winning $70,000 in Lucky 7s are one in 55,556.
Michigan Lottery officials say the church will receive the full amount of the prize because it is a tax-exempt group.
Pastor Marilyn Parmelee tells the Lansing State Journal that the prize money will go toward the church building fund, setting up a missionary fund and supporting local community service projects.
That's awesome!
Most churches will snub their noses at lottery wins! Not this church! They'll put it to good use. Good for them!
I love when church people win. I'm next and I know its gonna be big
My church says that they won't accept donations from lottery winnings !
I will help some other church then and go to some other church.
I think God uses imperfect people - why not imperfect money ????
this story just given me the must evil idea
what if you win pb or mm, and claim it as a church
thats right, make your own "church" that you happen to be "in charge of",
i know its sneaky as hell, and irs would send some many agent spys to make sure your really a church, but whats to stop you form putting on a show
their no rule saying you have to be a PUblic church, could be a invite only one
get my drift, LOL
Sorry, but no, you have to have a tax exempt ID number from the IRS to be considered a church with non-profit status.
am sorry, but your wrong buddy,
churchs are
“Automatically Tax-Exempt”
“Automatically Tax-Deductible”
to go in more details, keep reading
IRS myths about churchs
#1 A church or church ministry must file in order to avoid paying taxes.
Not true
The IRS has acknowledged for decades that it is completely unnecessary for any church to apply for a tax-exempt status.According to IRS Publication 557, as well as IRS Code § 508, churches and church ministries are “exempt automatically.” Application for an exempt status is not only superfluous, but to do so subordinates that church to the IRS. Churches in America have always been nontaxable anyway. It simply makes no sense for a church to go to the IRS and seek permission to be exempted from a tax the government can’t impose in the first place.
#2. Tax Deductible
Whether or not a church or church ministry applies for and receives a " tax-exempt recognition letter” from the IRS,any contributions made to a church are “automatically qualified” as atax write-off to the contributor, pursuant to IRS Publication 526, and IRS Code § 170(c)(2)(B). A church does not have to be a "nonprofit charitable organization" to be tax deductible, nor does it need IRS authorization to be tax deductible. According to the IRS, churches have that status “automatically.”
“Automatically Tax-Exempt”
“Automatically Tax-Deductible”
to simply it down for you
Churches Need Not Apply to IRS
In order to be considered for tax-exempt status by the IRS an organization must fill out and submit IRS Form 1023 and 1024. However, note what the IRS says regarding churches and church ministries, in Publication 557:
Some organizations are not required to file Form 1023. These include: Churches
, congress made IRS, the congress cant touch Churches nor can they do it via their creations the IRS
the confusion dumbies have is that Some churches do file,
churches can apply for and get a offical"Tax-Exempt" status form the IRS, but, it already had it to begin with and did not need to ask for it to begin with
do some reserach next time before you spit out lies
Hum, if my organization qualified for tax exemption status, I'd choose to claim tax exemptions to the fullest! Therefore, I'd require the paper that shows a 'tax exempt ID#' , this way when I buy anything I can show/provide this ID# to the store (local grocery, internet stores, office supply store, printer store, etc.) in order to not pay tax on EACH purchase.
That's why I feel this article is so newsworthy. If I ever hit it big I'll have a full time job researching who gets my money. Church will be at the top of the list!
Two things about this article makes me feel good.
1. I guess not all churches feel it's a sin to play the lottery. I have been trying to find it in the bible (anything about gambling I guess) and can't find it.
2. I still owe the church ten percent of the $4 I just won on a scratcher. (yes i'm serious)
I believe, unless I win BIG and have to write off a HUGE church donation requiring some sort of receipt, theres no way my church will know that the money came from some kind of lottery win.
I would love to win BIG before christmas and adopt a whole family like I saw on the TLC special Millionaire Christmas. Thats one of my lotto dreams. I can't afford to do it now; I just adopt one child but shopping for a complete stranger makes my heart feel good.
Actually it is in the Bible - " and they cast lots" !
on tv they showed the lady that put the ticket in the collection box. she said the church helped her through some hard times and she wanted to give back to the people and the church that helped her through some tough times. the minister said that she doesn't even know if she could do it. she said it with a smile. she is very happy the church got the money so that they could help others.
i am not a christian at all and i would like to do some small things to help people that i could. i would set up some kind of chekcing account that wold shield me from those who are trying to find out who sent the check. i can't spend 245 million by myself. oh yeah i have to win powerball first.