Method of Convocation?

Did I happen to sound jaded about group altar calls? Shame on me. The Lord has drawn me to a real life story that brought a smile to my face.
Last Easter, when I was busy being confirmed, the Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States were giving away prizes in a bid to boost congregation numbers. The prizes were 16 free cars and millions of pounds worth of other prizes, like bicycles, laptop computors and vouchers for a chiropractic exam, baseball tickets, gym membership and a stay for the dog at a dog hotel.
The church normally has a weekly attendance of 7,000, but the well advertised service drew in 23,500 attendees on Easter Day. (Must be a big place) During the service the gifts were given out to lucky winners chosen at random in the congregation.
Naturally this method of boosting the numbers attracted criticism and condemnation. Especially after the enterprise gained widespread media attention.
Bay Area Lead Pastor Bill Cornelius defended this practice by claiming the prizes were a metaphor for getting into heaven. 'I want to make sure you get the ultimate giveaway' he said to the crowd 'a ticket to heaven. We have some really nice stuff to give away. But I hate to break it to you - none of this is going to last. Heaven is forever.'
The church claimed that hundreds of people took Jesus into their heart that day. The only thing they could 'really take with them.'

I have pondered this method for some time and have marvelled at the quantity and cost of the items collected to give away. All gifts came from the congregation. Cornelius said 'I'm very proud of our people for being so incredibly generous and willing to do anything it takes to get spiritually lost people through the door to hear about the love of God'

Well, I found it easy to think how crazy America can be, but also how bold and outrageous a scheme is that? Could Rochester Cathedral undertake such a plan?
How also do we know this was a holy spirit driven exercise and not one to embrace consumerism and materialism? Well, firstly, they seemed to collect an unfeasible amount of prizes. Secondly the church is 12 years old in Bay Area. They began with 5 people. Something genuine seems to be happening, notwithstanding the fact that I feel The Lord Himself is showing me this.

Lastly, that group of outcasts called materialistic consumers is one group of sinners that I belong to myself. Many of us do, don't we. Have I sold my house and assets and given everything to the church? Er, no, not yet!
How many people attend church on a Sunday and how many go to Bluewater shopping centre? How do we get the shoppers to hear the Good News? An ultimate giveaway has to be better than a bargain. How may these people be reached if not in this unconventional way.