Blessings don’t come cheap in one Florida church.
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According to ABC Action News, a Tampa, Fla., woman claims that she was sent a $1,000 collection notice, warning her that in order “to be a member in good standing and have the right to vote, adults are to contribute the minimum amount of $50 per month” to the Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church.
Candace Petterson started attending services at the Baptist church about six months ago because it was closer to her new home and she’d determined that she just clicked with the congregation.
“People were really friendly there, and I really enjoyed being there,” she told the news station—until she was all but accused of being delinquent in her support of the church, that is.
“Fifty dollars per month, now, this shocked me because I haven’t heard about the $50 per month. So where did this come from?” the single mom said.
The letter she received also notified her that she had missed paying the required $150 fee for “Mount Moriah Day,” as well as another $250 yearly church anniversary fee. One of the fees is reportedly to pay off some of the church’s debt.
“What church charges you to help pay off what they’re going through? I’m not there for that,” the mom said.
Children don’t escape church fees, either: Petterson claims that her 11-year-old daughter is also supposed to contribute $5 a month to be a member of the church.
“It’s like you say to me, ‘If you want to be a member of this church, you need to pay this.’ If you want to find God, it don’t say anything like that in the Bible,” Petterson said.
Read more at ABC Action News.
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