Frugal farmer leaves $2 million to tiny church

Man who lived in a mobile home donates his entire estate to Pa. parish

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updated 8:56 a.m. ET Dec. 8, 2008

BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. - It's like a gift from God.

A tiny church in western Pennsylvania inherited more than $2 million from a farmer who lived in a mobile home.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Sunday that John Ferguson left his entire estate to Hopewell United Methodist Church near the town of Black Lick.

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The 71-year-old farmer attended the church before dying in January 2007. The gift has been in probate since then.

The church has just 80 members. Hopewell pastor Jason McQueen said a panel of congregation members will choose projects to be funded annually from the income generated by Ferguson's estate.