Priest Uses Poker Winnings to Build Church

A South Carolina priest has turned his poker playing exploits into funding for a new church, using his $100,000 in winnings to help cover the costs of the new building. In total, the new facility will cost about $6.5 billion to build.

Father Andrew Trapp, who many are now calling “The Poker Playing Priest,” originally hoped to contribute a full $1 million to help build a new building for St. Michael’s Catholic Church, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He set out to win the money by playing in the PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge. Before playing, he consulted his local Diocese, and was given their blessing to play.

The Million Dollar Challenge, the first season of which aired on FOX last fall, gives amateur poker players the chance to take on celebrities and professional players to win cash and prizes. First, the amateur player plays heads-up against a celebrity with help from Daniel Negreanu; if they win, they take home a trip to the Bahamas. Next, with further help from Negreanu, the amateur plays against a professional poker player with a prize of $25,000 on the line. Finally, they have the choice to risk that $25,000 for a chance to play Negreanu; if they win, they take home $100,000.

Trapp played in the very first episode of the show, and defeated John Salley, Vanessa Rousso and Negreanu on his way to winning a $100,000 prize. Trapp was invited back to play for $1 million against other winners on the show, but lost out to fellow contestant Mike Kosowski.

Despite the setback, Trapp was able to put his $100,000 towards the building of a new parish, and the Bishop for the Diocese of Charleston gave St. Michael’s the go ahead to build the new church. The church itself has $4.2 million to use towards construction, and is able to loan another $1 million. Combined with other sources of funding, this still leaves the church about $900,000 short of the necessarily amount, but fundraising efforts are underway to cover the difference.

The church hopes to break ground on the new building before the end of 2010. According to church officials, the new facility will be able to accommodate over 12,000 people.