The evangelical Louisiana pastor who has ignored social distancing and allowed packed services wants his congregation to donate their coronavirus stimulus checks to churches that have been shuttered.
Life Tabernacle Church leader Tony Spell came under fire for allowing his church near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to keep its doors open during the pandemic, including on Easter Sunday.
He does not specify if his challenge requires congregants to donate some or all of their stimulus cash, but says he is practicing what he preaches by donating all of his $1,200, as is his wife, according to TMZ, which first reported the controversial call.
In a video posted by the Daily Mail, Spell calls his idea #PastorSpellStimulusChallenge, which will start Sunday. It asks his congregants donate their stimulus money and give it to North American evangelists, missionaries or music ministers who have not received any money from parishioners over the past month — or "give through my website."
Government relief checks began arriving in the bank accounts of tens of millions Americans on Wednesday, with adults getting up to $1,200 each and $500 for each child to help people pay the rent or cover other bills during a crisis that has shuttered businesses throughout the nation.
Earlier this month, Spell told TMZ that people had "nothing to fear" and "true Christians do not mind dying."
The number of infections in Louisiana has increased to more than 22,500 and the death toll is now over 1,100, NBC affiliate WDSU reported Thursday.
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