Parishioners of Southern California’s Saddleback Church donated $2.4-million last week after their nationally known pastor issued a plea for funds to close a $900,000 deficit, reports the Associated Press.

The Rev. Rick Warren, who delivered the invocation at President Obama’s inauguration last year, announced the windfall in a sermon January 2, three days after he posted a letter on his Web site detailing the evangelical church’s budget problems. He attributed the gap to a dramatic drop in holiday-season donations and the rising cost of aiding out-of-work parishioners.

Mr. Warren said Saturday that all the money raised came from church members in donations of less than $100.

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