The Chicago Tribune reports…
“At Lighthouse Church of All Nations in Alsip, the congregation can get more than just prayer at the Sunday worship services.
If a lucky — or “blessed and highly favored” — churchgoer is in the right seat, they can also receive a cash prize.
At each of the three Sunday services, the Rev. Dan Willis pulls a number of one seat from a bag and the worshiper in that seat wins a cash prize. Two of the churchgoers win $250 and the third gets $500. The church gives away $1,000 each Sunday, Willis said.
The cash prize is part of Willis’ recent focus on helping his congregation pay bills and begin a debt-free life, he said.
“We’ve had soooo many of our people displaced from jobs, facing foreclosure,” he said. “When people’s faith was high, their debt was down. When their faith was down, their debt was high. I realized the two are connected.”
Willis concedes the cash prize is a gimmick to fill the pews. But he’s unapologetic about the plan, because it’s working. On a typical Sunday, his church draws about 1,600 people to its three Sunday services. But since the money giveaway started, about five weeks ago, the congregation has grown to about 2,500 each week, he said. The money for the giveaway comes from the church offering. Lighthouse is a non-denominational church.
“If I can get someone in here and teach them and give them money, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said.
As part of the lessons, Willis set up a shredder near the pulpit to encourage church members to shred their credit cards and commit to stop spending. He talks about budgeting, tackling past-due bills and saving. He encourages the prize winners to use the money to pay down their bills, rather than splurge on new items. One Sunday, he gave away 15 savings accounts with $25 already in them. And he had bank representatives at the service so church members could set up accounts.
“The Bible says even an ant stores up in the summer so it can live in the winter,” Willis said. “Even an ant can teach us. Even an ant knows how to save. We, with intellect, don’t know how to do it. When people see that in Scripture, it takes on a whole different level.”
From http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-church-cashnov02,0,5901781.story
Fantastically novel approach: Teaching people about getting out of debt and staying out of debt. I do admire this fella!
nevermind that each person put thousands of dollars into the church for tithes. Its like a secular lottery except you don’t get alot back
it doesn’t say anywhere there that people at this church are taught to tithe – sop I think you’re jumping the gun a bit MJ – it is quite right and proper that people are taught to give and support one another
sorry speaking from experience of another….
whoops in my child’s side of the pc again, above is MJ not Pete
I agree some preachers have a identity crisis it appears and some possibly with low self esteem, end up with that “new money” look that is so unattractive
this was meant for the “Haggard” discussion, wtf
“When people’s faith was high, their debt was down. When their faith was down, their debt was high. I realized the two are connected.”
Great! He should just preach the gospel! That should keep everyone’s faith up.
“The Bible says even an ant stores up in the summer so it can live in the winter,”
The bible calls us to be good stewards full stop!
“As part of the lessons, Willis set up a shredder near the pulpit to encourage church members to shred their credit cards and commit to stop spending. He talks about budgeting, tackling past-due bills and saving. He encourages the prize winners to use the money to pay down their bills, rather than splurge on new items. One Sunday, he gave away 15 savings accounts with $25 already in them. And he had bank representatives at the service so church members could set up accounts.”
Great! Brilliant! But church service? More like information for a workshop. A church service is about servicing each other with God involved. With all this focus on being out of debt, scrapping cards, etc. how is God involved? Maybe I’m too quick to judge but… It’s still the tango between the two masters.
Masters – Mulah or Messiah?
well thats true S&P, we are meant to choose one master, how many could admit they dance around this subject a bit
Credit card shredders – a nice change from credit card payment facilities!
Honestly, one of the best ways to help people to focus less on money, is to help them get out of debt and remove that pressure. If they can be helped to spend less (like by shredding credit cards), and are in a church environment which discourages spending on non-essentials (such as to support appearances), then that’s great, and something to be applauded.
Sounds like he’s trying to help people in a very practical way. I don’t have a problem with that being part of a church service at all, especially if its in an area hit hard by the GFC.
“…and are in a church environment which discourages spending on non-essentials…” – by this I don’t mean puritanism – I mean according to circumstance removing pressure, in this case assisting people who are in out of control debt.
thats right and also talk to your local member/govt department about the cost of living is oz, its not so cheap, be proactive, you have a voice people
sorry, on a bit of a soapbox, as i am a “working family” we need to voice about the price of petrol, electricity, water food et al, its actually cheaper to live elsewhere u know, but our beaches are nice, but that is the only good thing
I actually think what he is doing is brilliant. It’s just that when people get together to do ‘church’, it’s meant to be about God and not money.
If these were workshops, I’d raise and applaud the man. But he still gets my applause sitting down.