When Team Poker Stars launched the Million Dollar Challenge t.v. show on FOX television October 11, they probably never imagined that one of the top winners of the televised heads-up poker tournament series’ inaugural season would be a preacher playing for charity.

The preacher is Father Andrew Trapp and the charity that he’s playing for is his church’s building fund. When not ministering to his flock, Father Trapp has a friendly home poker game. It was by being one of the top 10 finishers in a PokerStars online qualifier for the Million Dollar Challenge t.v. program that he landed an opportunity to audition for the show. His audition, a short video, took him the final stride to the studio where he earned $25,000 and then $100,000, besting even show headliner Daniel Negreanu. Now he will face the 3 other $100,000 winners at the December season finisher for the $1 million winner-takes-all grand prize.  This is much higher than any casino signup bonus he could have received.

Churches are nothing new to using gambling as a means to raise money.  However, many have not tried to play keno online yet.