Bethlehem Community Church in Laurel, Mississippi who adhered to all  5 Rules for Fools’ when it pranked its congregation with a visit from George W. Bush…

Here’s how it broke down:

They Did No Harm

The worst that happened to anyone involved was spending a little more time in church than they would have otherwise. Priceless!

They Made It Relevant to Their Brand

A Christian church used the image of the most openly Christian president in modern times to get national air play. Awesome!

They Had a Business Goal in Mind

Or at least a spiritual goal to get their message out to more people and draw in a new audience. I hope they saw a difference in their collection plates, as well. Brilliant!

They Were Convincing

They were even careful enough not to tell the congregation who was coming that day! Otherwise, Bush’s people may have flagged it. Genius!

Everyone Laughed, or At Least Smiled, at the Reveal

No harm, no foul. Even the people who felt duped gave them props. Amazing!

Regardless of your political or religious leanings, you have to hand it to them for crafting such an elaborate prank that garnered so much positive attention.

Bravo!