The Rev. William “B.T.” Gilligan showed off his new, pink mohawk haircut at Nixon United Methodist Church's vacation Bible school in Penn Township earlier this month. The pastor proclaimed he would dye his hair pink, have his nails painted and get hit in the face with a pie if children could raise more than $1,000 during Bible school.

PENN TWP — Pastor William “B.T.” Gilligan knew what was coming.

So, he closed his eyes and let the whipped cream splatter all over his face.

The pastor of Nixon United Methodist Church, 334 W. Airport Road, made a wager with his young vacation Bible school participants, challenging them to raise money for the South Butler School District. Earlier this month, he paid off.

The money raised went toward the district's Angel Fund program, which helps students and families who can't pay overdue lunch balances.

Gilligan told his VBS students if they raised $250, he would let them paint his nails. If the number went up to $500, he would shave his head into a mohawk and have it dyed pink. However, if the students raised over $1,000, not only would Gilligan get a makeover, but he would have to endure whipped-cream pies in the face.

The VBS students raised $1,046.56 in five days.Despite getting a new hairdo and whipped cream in the face, the wager was worth it for Gilligan.

“The whip cream pies in the face were the worst things to face,” Gilligan said. “The whip cream smells in your nose for several days. But, I'm just happy we could help out.”

Read the full story in Thursday's Butler Eagle.