MILFORD, Conn. -- Members of Kingdom Life Christian Church are buying a building where an adult video store is located with plans to shut down the business.
According to The Associated Press, the 2,000-member church raised $245,000 to purchase the building. The store, Video Pleasures, will be forced to move when its lease expires. The lease ends in December, but the store has an option to renew for three years.
Kingdom Life Bishop Ray Ramirez said the idea for buying the building came one day as he walked past the store with his daughters.
"I decided that day it had to go," Ramirez said.
Mayor James Richetelli Jr., who joined Ramirez at a news conference announcing the purchase, lauded the financial sacrifices some church members made, which included foregoing vacations, selling second cars and donating a month's pay, according to the news report.
"This is a great day for Devon and the city of Milford," Richetelli said. "The porn shop has a lease, which the church has vowed not to renew when it is up. In short, Video Pleasures days in Devon are numbered."
