Church ups attendance, gives away money

(CNN) - At the Lighthouse Church of All Nations in suburban Chicago, parishioners have been lining up every week hoping to receive more than just the Sunday sermon.

Church pastor Dan Willis also recently began giving away money. With a congregation hit hard by the economic downturn, Willis finishes every service with a cash prize, giving away $1,000 every week.

"During the economic recession, I wanted to teach on the parallel between faith and finances," said Willis.

Willis does not call the prize a lottery, instead referring to it as a love gift, a chance to "bless" a lucky few while also helping fill his pews. He said church attendance has grown from about 1,600 to 2,500 in just a few weeks.

Recent winners said the money could not come at a better time.

"I went down and I celebrated with my wife and my kids," said Frank Cruz, a parishioner. "And then after that I paid a couple of bills off and I did groceries."

Some religious community members are concerned for the gimmick.

"The whole point of the Christian life is to care for others, to love others," said William Schweiker, Theological Ethicist, University of Chicago. "To give. And yet, this could set up a mindset where the purpose of going to church is to acquire for ones self, which is what Christians usually call sin."

Still, Willis said it is not just the love that he hopes will continue to grow at the Lighthouse Church, but also the parking lot. He plans on building an additional lot to handle the hundreds more people coming to church every week during these tough economic times, praying for a chance to win some cold hard cash.