I drove by a church today here in Albuquerque that is selling fireworks out of a huge tent in their parking lot.  When I came back to my office, I read a story about a church in Louisiana that does this too.  Interesting.  Here’s the story:

The House of Prayer First United Pentecostal Church in Thibodaux, Louisiana has been selling fireworks in their church parking lot since 1994.  This year, the church plans to use money from fireworks sales to pay off debt on its building, which was once owned by Lowe’s. In the past, money raised from fireworks sales has also been used toward mission work in foreign countries.

The fireworks sold this season could bring the church as much as $15,000-20,000 after taxes, said Ronnie Melancon, pastor for more than 25 years. He expects the church to be debt free by the end of this year.

One church member said this about the church: “We’re really fun-loving and we enjoy life.  We’re not a cult. We just love Jesus…and fireworks.”

By the way: for those who are concerned about mixing the message of Jesus with potentially unsafe fireworks, the church offers parents the option of buying bags with safer fireworks specifically designed for younger children!