Church pays more to avoid devilish $666 bill

Crossroads Community Church in Kearney, Missouri made plans to build a small addition and when the building permit fee was totaled they owed $666. The church offered to pay one dollar more, a total of $667, to avoid the number commonly recognized as a symbol of the Antichrist or Devil. Pastor Brett Toole said, "I had to explain it to some people, but there were some that got it right away, understood the biblical numerology and how that was not a great number for a church.” Building inspector Chad Coffelt said that this was the first time anyone had ever asked to pay more. In the end, Crossroads Community Church will not have to pay the permit bill because the city of Kearney regularly waives that fee for churches and nonprofits.