Go To Church, Win A Car

Bay Area Fellowship gave away millions of dollars worth of prizes, including 16 cars, at its Easter services from Thursday through Sunday. Pastor Bil Cornelius' plan to attract potential new members worked -- more than 23,500 attended services at Bay Area's main campus in Corpus Christi or its six other branches.

Cynthia Garcia’s won a gray 2002 Volkswagen Jetta. She said, "I've never had so much fun in church." "It's pretty awesome," Sylest Candelaria, 6, said of her new purple bike.

The multimillion dollar giveaway attracted nationwide attention, not all of it positive. The church was criticized for bribing people to come to church. The church gave away 15,000 prize packs with coupons for free goods and services such as a night's stay for dogs at the Pooch Pad.

Eva Rodgers said she doesn't understand the criticism the church has received. "Clubs do this kind of thing, why not a church?" she said. "His message is to get them in here and get them saved, not get them in here and get them wasted. Several people protested outside the church during a Sunday morning service, Jessica Cornelius said. "We took them doughnuts and water, so I guess we killed them with kindness," she said with a smile.

"I have yet to see a hearse pulling a U-Haul, guys," Cornelius said. "You can't take this stuff with you.” (From the Caller-Times, Corpus Christi, Texas.)