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Church hopes $1,000 Easter giveaway brings in sheaves

Baptist church's goal: help spiritually, financially

Pastor Randy Moore of Lindenwald Baptist Church will hold a raffle during Easter service, giving a member the opportunity to receive $500 and a visitor to receive $500. Church officials say the mission of the raffle is to help people struggling during tough economic times and to get at least 1,000 people to attend church on Easter.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Pastor Randy Moore of Lindenwald Baptist Church will hold a raffle during Easter service, giving a member the opportunity to receive $500 and a visitor to receive $500. Church officials say the mission of the raffle is to help people struggling during tough economic times and to get at least 1,000 people to attend church on Easter.

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer 2:14 AM Saturday, March 6, 2010

HAMILTON — When Pastor Randy Moore first came to the Lindenwald Baptist Church nine years ago, he preached to 80 people.

Now, Sunday morning attendance averages in the 500s, he said, but for Easter he’s hoping to double that with a push they’re calling “1,000 Strong.”

But doing so will cost the church $1,000 in a sort of reverse offering: It will draw names for two $500 prizes — one to a member and one to a guest.

All it takes to enter is to attend the 10 a.m. service, listen to a 50-voice choir raise the roof and a lively sermon on “The Journey to the Cross.” Children can stick around after the service for a giant Easter egg hunt.

“No one’s going to come in here and go to sleep,” the pastor said. “That’s a promise.

“We know it’s a pinched economy and that people don’t have a lot of extra money right now,” Moore said. “People tend to go to church that Sunday anyway, so we want them to come here. We’re more concerned about the souls than the money.”

Moore said that he’d never heard of another church giving away money during a service, but it was an idea that came up during a brainstorming session on how to boost attendance.

“Scripture says we should give above and beyond, so if we can be a blessing to someone, why not?” he said. “We give a lot to foreign missions and we’ve given a lot to Haiti recently, but in general churches don’t tend to give so much closer to home. So it’s our desire to give something to the local community.”

Moore said that much of the giveaway money has been raised through a special offering, but even if that comes up short, the rest will come from the general fund.

He says that once they’re in the door, hospitality and the Holy Spirit will bring them back.

“We’re trying to draw people, but we’re also giving them more than money,” Moore said. “We’re giving away a church home and a family. With a congregation like this, there are built-in support groups. No matter what you’re going through in your life, someone here has already been through it and is ready to help.

“If you give people a steady diet of the Word of God, a positive influence and a cheerful atmosphere where people can lean on each other, they’ll come back,” he said.

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