Something the general public probably does not know.
Las Vegas churches accept gambling chips during their services in their collection plates. It probably originated with Wilbur Clark, who owned the Desert Inn, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and attended regularly on Sunday. The Pastor there at the time was James Street, who had lived in Nevada all his life, and was a good friend of Wilbur Clark.
A fact most don't know, there are more churches in Las Vegas than there are casinos. Reno has the same statistical balance, and Harold's Club often mentioned that in their world-wide advertising campaign in the 40's and 50's.
Not surprisingly, some worshipers at Sunday Services will put casino chips, rather than cash, when the basket is passed. The churches accept them with the same philosophy that the casinos use, a chip does not have the same monetary value as actual money, so people are prone to donate more, in chips, than actual money.
Since they get chips from many different casinos, the Clark County Ministerial Association has devised a method to collect the offerings.
A nearby Franciscan Monastery, located on Mt. Charleston, every Monday, collects all of the chips from the various churches, takes them to the Monastery, where they sort them, and then take them to the casino of origin, and cash them in. The money is then electronically transferred to each church.
This service is performed by the Chip Monks.
Las Vegas churches accept gambling chips during their services in their collection plates. It probably originated with Wilbur Clark, who owned the Desert Inn, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and attended regularly on Sunday. The Pastor there at the time was James Street, who had lived in Nevada all his life, and was a good friend of Wilbur Clark.
A fact most don't know, there are more churches in Las Vegas than there are casinos. Reno has the same statistical balance, and Harold's Club often mentioned that in their world-wide advertising campaign in the 40's and 50's.
Not surprisingly, some worshipers at Sunday Services will put casino chips, rather than cash, when the basket is passed. The churches accept them with the same philosophy that the casinos use, a chip does not have the same monetary value as actual money, so people are prone to donate more, in chips, than actual money.
Since they get chips from many different casinos, the Clark County Ministerial Association has devised a method to collect the offerings.
A nearby Franciscan Monastery, located on Mt. Charleston, every Monday, collects all of the chips from the various churches, takes them to the Monastery, where they sort them, and then take them to the casino of origin, and cash them in. The money is then electronically transferred to each church.
This service is performed by the Chip Monks.
