Church to give away house on New Year's Eve

All that’s missing is an appearance by Bob Barker.

For the third consecutive year, Abundant Life Christian Center will bring a taste of game show glitz to its annual New Year’s Eve services, using the lure of a jackpot to put wayward souls in the seats.

At the end of the evening Saturday, one attendee will walk away with a $120,000 home — a newly constructed three-bedroom bungalow on Allen Boulevard off the east side of state Highway 3 near the Mainland Medical Center.

During the service, 20 names will be drawn at random and placed with another 100 names of entrants chosen from among those who have tossed their name into the hat at regular services during the year. Entrants must be in attendance when their name is selected.

From this pool of 120 names, 12 finalists — to symbolize the 12 Apostles — will be handed a house key that fits a door in a frame placed on the stage. Only one key will be able to unlock the door, and the key holder wins the house.
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=70922281899ff799

I don't know about this one. It seems a little excessive to offer a home as a prize for going to church. I hope that it goes to someone who really needs it, but that person probably won't have the money for the closing and property taxes.

A member of the Abundant Life Christian Center in Texas rang in the New Year not with a glass of champagne — but a new home.

In a controversial game-show-style giveaway, the church awarded a $120,000 three-bedroom house to Tammy Woods.

Woods, a mother of two girls ages 12 and 16, lives with her children and husband Larry in a mobile home. Before they won the new home, the Woodses were in the process of buying a new home. Now, they say they will move into the home they won in about two to three weeks.

Contestants could only win the house by being present at the church's New Year's Eve services. Since 2003, the church has given away a car, a motorcycle and furniture, and the New Year's services usually draw about 2,000 people.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1460616