THE PRECIOUS MOMENTS CHAPEL

The mines may be closed in Carthage, but there is still one millionaire who owes his wealth to another local source: religion. Religion is a powerful marketing tool in one of the most rigorous Bible Belt states, and Precious Moments is a perfect example.

Samuel Butcher, a native of Michigan, receives a call from Christ in a chapel one night. That's how he began to dedicate his life to God. In the 1970s, he drew the tear in the eyes of children, which he called Precious Moments. He created a company to produce his drawings and added Precious Moments figurines, including Timmy, a kind of cherub inspired by his son, which was a huge success. For many years, Sam dreamed of building a chapel where he could share his faith and spread the word of God. He built it in the middle of an amusement park where Timmy's face is omnipresent. As for the chapel, it is like the rest. Around each tower, murals, angels, stained glass windows and other elements of illustration of the master of the place. There are even two bridal rooms. Because here it is like in Vegas, we get married on the field. The shopping mall has all the facilities of Disneyland... On the spot, you will also find all the necessary accommodations and services: a hotel, a golf course, a restaurant, an artificial lake...