Church Gives Away Money To Get People To Show Up

The online edition of the Chicago Sun-Times tells us that a church in the area is trying to boost attendance through the use of a raffle system that awards cash prizes among those who show up to church.

According to the story:

For the last three weeks ... Lighthouse Church of All Nations in Alsip has raffled a combined $1,000 to attendees at the three Sunday services.

Attendance has increased dramatically and the pastor, Rev. Dan Willis, is okay with how he'd done it.

Again, from the story:

"It is gimmicky. It is totally gimmicky. I make no bones about that," Willis said. "But if I could get someone who would not normally come to church, why not?"

Tags: Lighthouse Church of All Nations, church, raffle

0 members like this

Comment by Godless Girl on October 26, 2009 at 9:44am: Well, it's a business like any other. Good old fashioned marketing makes use of people's needed and greed.

Comment by Steve on October 26, 2009 at 10:01am: Amazes me that anyone would want people to attend half heartedly, that is a trait from Christians I have never understood. I guess it just shows the almighty dollar is greater than their "God", God could not get them there, but, Ben Franklin had no problem bringing them in. Kinda sad.

Comment by noisician on October 26, 2009 at 10:49am: It makes sense. Sure, people may come just for the chance at the $1000. But before you can brainwash somebody, you need a way to get them to sit still and listen to your message. Doesn't matter too much how you do it.

And it's like the lottery also: it can actually make more money than it pays out. If you get enough people showing up, and guilt enough of them into contributing, you can cover the cost of the prizes and make even more.

Comment by Matthew on October 26, 2009 at 9:31pm: You could not get me to sit thought a church service for anything less than $100 and the money would have to be in my pocket before I walked in the door.

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