A man was touring the United States, and every Sunday he stopped by the nearest church for services. In every church he stopped there was a gold phone, and he stopped in many different churches of all denominations. 

In the first church he stopped, he asked if he could use the solid gold phone.

In Chicago, he was told the cost to use the gold phone was $10,000.00 a minute.

"Why so high?" asked the gentleman.

"This is a special phone to Heaven. You can talk to God."

"Oh, I see! But, I can't afford to pay that high to talk to God, but thank you."

He looked at the pretty solid gold phone and left.

In Hollywood he saw the same gold phone and asked if he could use it.

“This is a special phone to talk to God. It will cost you $10,000.00 a minute.”

“I know it cost high to talk to God. I can’t afford this call, but thank you.”

He again looked at the gold phone and left.

In every state he toured, the gold phone was in every church, and it cost $10,000.00 a minute to talk to God. In San Diego, Indianapolis, Little Rock, New York City, Des Moines, Topeka --- in every city it was the same.

When he arrived in New Orleans, he saw the gold phone in the St. Louis Cathedral. 

A lady was sitting next to him in the pew where he knelt to pray. When he finished his prayers, he quietly said to her, “I’ve been traveling all over the United States and in every church I stopped in there was a gold phone just like this one. It’s so shiny!”

The lady answered, “Yes it is shiny. It’s a special gold phone to talk to God.”

“I know,” he said. “I would love to use it, but I can’t afford the call.”

“Oh, but the call is free,” she replied.

“Free! Why is it free in this church? In every state I stopped in, it was $10,000.00 for each minute.” 

“You’re in the South now, sir. Down here, it’s a local call.”

Talk to God for FREE.

You don't even need the gold phone, but I love the story.