Local businessman hopes to draw youth to church with cash

Every Sunday at Temple Baptist Church, James Sabot leads a bible study. He says his life has been full of bumps in the road and says if young adults learn to bring faith into their lives, they'll enjoy a smoother ride by making better decisions. He says that's the reason for this flat out bribe.

"There’s really good positive things in faith that they can live their life and their life will be better because of it."

The first 9 people to show up before 9:30 on Sunday will receive an envelope with a bill in it, anywhere from 5 to 100 dollars. After that, the rules are simple. You can't open your envelope, you can trade with anyone, and after class everyone attends church.

"What changes people’s hearts and minds is not being beat down in an argument, rather someone who is sincere about who cares about them and I care about these young people."

But what do college students think of making money at church.

"I’d feel kind of weird going there to get paid and plus you have the chance of like 5 dollars so it's like you're wasting gas if all you're getting is 5 dollars and it's just chance."

"I’m all for what he's trying to do to reach out to different people. I think it's a cool idea, but I'm just going to pray that it actually reaches out to those people and that they're not just going for that money.”

Sabot says its okay for people to come for the cash now, but hopes to see this idea go further than one visit to church. Temple Baptist Church is at 2801 north Broadway. Sabat will offer the cash this Sunday and again on February 21st.

Tags: reporter stories, todd kurtz, religion, fargo