LaSalle Street Church gives out $500 to each congregant to 'go do good'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A church in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood is trying an exercise in paying in forward.

Two weeks ago, the LaSalle Street Church divided $160,000 among its 300 congregants. Everyone got a $500 check with only one request: go use it for good.

Senior Pastor Laura Truax admitted to DNAinfo that she feared she could be squandering the money.

The congregants were told to pray and then go do good with whatever idea they come up with, and then talk about their experience.