Pastor's gamble hits snag

Michelle and Murray Smith are nearly $650,000 short of the sum they hope to raise on their $1 million Lake Karapiro home. Photo / Dean Purcell

A kind-hearted pastor and his family who have donated their house to raise $1 million for their church and a new community centre are praying for a miracle.

Just 14,100 of the 50,000 $25 tickets Murray Smith had hoped to sell to match the value of his property and meet the costs of his sales promotion have gone, despite interest in the promotion from people in 94 countries.

Click here to go to the promotion website www.apieceofnz.co.nz.

And with just three weeks left until January 31 - when the Department of Internal Affairs has ruled the promotion must end - time is fast running out for the Smiths.

Mr Smith, who has been a minister at the Bridges Church in Cambridge for five years, said about $358,000 had been raised by yesterday - nearly $650,000 short of the $1 million target.

The promotion began in early November.

The five-bedroom home, built in 2001, comes with views over Lake Karapiro, a cedar conservatory, an open-plan kitchen-dining area, a separate lounge and two guest units.

"There's no question about it, we need some miracles to happen," said Mr Smith. "But the whole thing from our point of view was putting our faith on the line ... Sometimes faith needs to be demonstrated by actions. We are just going for it and trusting in God that there will be a good outcome."

Mr Smith said their campaign had not been helped by Internal Affairs, which threatened them with legal action and ordered them to shut down their promotional website because it said it involved gambling.

"They gave us 10 minutes to shut the website down but the lawyers had been dealing with the department for many weeks and were absolutely confident it complied in every respect.

"It was a little unfortunate the way they went about it because they tended to shoot first and then ask questions later. It was a very distressing week ... Our view was the department was hoping we would voluntarily cancel the whole thing, but from an integrity point of view there was absolutely no way."

Mr Smith said plans for the community centre were almost complete and earthworks would start next month.

His family had still not sorted out a rental home in Cambridge to move into early next month but he, wife Michelle and their six children were relaxed about where they would live.

"Where you live is not the thing that defines your family life. It doesn't have to be great, just somewhere where we can settle down a bit. We are going to miss our home but the goal we are trying to achieve is an exciting one."

Mrs Smith said they had no regrets about their extraordinary decision, despite having no investments or a nest-egg to fall back on.

She said their act of kindness had had positive spin-offs and had given hope to others.

"One couple lost their home to a mortgagee sale due to redundancy and had to sell all their furniture and were at absolute rock-bottom, feeling disgraced and ashamed, but when they read our story they cried and cried.

"They realised that if we could voluntarily give it all away and start again with a great heart, they could also start again ... They told me that our story gave them hope to carry on.

"We have given it to God and said "you run with it now" ... He is miraculous and we are looking forward to seeing what he does.'

* Entrants can view terms and conditions at the promotion website, www.apieceofnz.co.nz

GIFT HOUSE
A $1 million home for a $25 ticket
* Five bedrooms.
* Master with en suite bathroom.
* Cedar conservatory.
* Open plan kitchen-dining.
* Separate lounge.
* Double internal access garage.
* Two self-contained guest accommodation units.