Element

Description

Additional Notes

Primary Philosophy

The purpose of the raffle is more than just raising money for certain Feast expenses.  Its primary purpose is to enhance the enjoyment and fun of the Feast at the physical and spiritual levels as will be explained in Historical Observations below this table.
 

Therefore, we feed a certain amount of income into the raffle to meet this goal of spreading joy in the congregation.
 

Spiritual Philosophy

I personally feel that God is in control of the raffle and He gives out the gifts.  For example, almost without fail, the money gifts have gone to those most in need.

We also have seen many instances where one person will win something and give it to another right there at the raffle.

 

The stories I could tell you about this.  See Historical Observations at the bottom of this paper for a couple.

Best time for the raffle

Our experience has found that the best two days of the eight-day Feast in which to hold the raffle are days three or four.  There are three primary reasons for this: 
1) It gives the organizers time to hype the raffle
2) It gives the members time to buy gifts locally
3) It gives the members half of the Feast to enjoy the item or items they have won.

back to top      back to Resources     home

Best gifts for the raffle

The best gifts are those bought from warehouse stories or department stories such as Costco, Sam’s, Wal-Mart, Target and the like.

We recommend items in the $15-$25 range, though we encourage people to let their hearts be their ultimate guide.  Some people have put items in the raffle with values in the hundreds or even a thousand dollars.

No one is obligated to donate gifts.  No individual or family should ever buy gifts for the raffle in lieu of meeting their obligations for lodging, food, transportation, entertainment or other personal and/or Feast related obligations or needs.

back to top      back to Resources     home

Experience has shown that for the most part, garage sale, white elephant, used, broken or homemade items do not do as well.

There are exceptions.  Some homemade items, such as quilts, dolls, afghans or throw pillows are both useful and command wide appeal.  Clothes do not do well.

Carved animals always do abundantly well.

 

Best Types of gifts

We have experience in this area, but are pleasantly surprised from time to time when donated gifts do particularly well.  As an example, in 2005, Costco was selling fully-assembled model cars.  I had no idea they would have done as good as they did.  We had at least seven such cars in 2006 and all did exceptionally well.

We encourage gifts that can be consumed or used at the Feast or that will bring children and widows joy.

We encourage an array of gifts that will appeal to young children, teens, single people, adults and widows.

As part of our hype for the raffle we have information at the Information Table on the best nearby places such as Costco, Sam’s, or your better gift shops.

The Safeway at Kings Beach has a gift area that I used every year.  This may be true in other larger food stories in resort areas.  The gift shops at your better hotels are also a great source.

Some people have been known to donate new DVD players, VCRs, tape recorders and the like.  One individual one year [2005] donated two $1000 shopping sprees using a catalog.  The same person donated one of these in 2006.

We film all the gifts for future reference and we can make these available to you upon request for viewing on your computer.

Often I will buy a combination DVD/VHS player for the Entertainment Night, held one day prior to the raffle [years 04-06].  I then put this in the raffle.  I also put some of the DVDs I bought for the Entertainment Night into the raffle.


 

back to top      back to Resources     home

Here is a list of the types of gifts that have done well at Tahoe, Tyler and Victoria:

--Beanie Babies and Pals
--Stuff animals
--Gift packs –liquor, beer, coffee, chocolate, spices, jams, teas, cheese & crackers, etc.
--Flashlights and multiple flashlight packs
--Smoked salmon
--Wine and liquor
--Beers from around the world
--Chocolates, especial fancy kinds.
--Fruit baskets
--Electronic gadgets, including CD and MP3 players, calculators and the like.
--Music CDs—audio and video
--Movie DVDs
--Calendars, especially those from and about the Feast area.
--GTA CDs with booklets and sermons
--Bibles
--Bible helps
--Model cars—assembled and metal
--Dolls
--Crayon and color book sets.
--Gas cards--prepaid
--Telephone cards—prepaid
--Mystery gifts—all wrapped up.
--Child crafts – things to keep young children occupied during services.
--Gift certificates
--Coupon for prepaid lodging at the Feast site
--Gift card for a local restaurant
--Money.  We always have a one hundred dollar bill and a fifty-dollar bill on separate plates.
--Disposable cameras
--Coffee mugs
--Beer steins and glasses
--Wine glasses

 

Bonus Gifts

 

I have done a number of things over the years such as:

1) I have every head of household buy one special ticket and place it in a jar.  The person winning the $100 then draws three tickets from the jar and each winner get $25.

2) I had a mystery gift of a large paper sack.  We had some dead weights inside.  Actually it contained one hundred single dollar bills that we dumped on the head of the winner.

3) I once put a dollar on a plate to see if anyone would put tickets to it.  Some did.  The winner received the secret bonus of $150.  No one knew that there was a bonus gift to that single dollar bill.

In 2005 I found the best idea for Bonus Gifts.

Here is what I do:  I take a tour of the room about one hour before the raffle and take down the numbers of four of the gifts.  I really hype the fact there are four bonus gifts of between $50 and $75 for each of these four gifts.  Clearly I tell no one of the gifts I have selected.  I put the four gift numbers on a three by five card and just before the raffle begins I tell everyone I have selected the four gifts and placed their numbers on the card.  When the gift comes up to the stage I ring a brass bell and everyone gets excited.  The winner of the prize also gets the money.

In my picking of the four gifts, I tend to pick out one that I feel will get a goodly number of tickets put to it.  I then pick out two that I feel will get medium action and finally one that I doubt will get much action.

The Money Tree Bonus Cash Gifts
In 2010 we will add to the Bonus Gift program a Money Tree with envelopes containing cash gifts of between $5 and $50.  We select at least 10 gifts to receive this bonus and announce them with a bicycle horn as they come to the front of the room [as opposed to the brass bell we use for the other bonus cash gifts].

back to top      back to Resources     home

It is our hopes that the number of bonus gifts will increase from the current four.

In 2009 we had five gifts with bonus money prizes.  Four prizes had $65 attached.  The fifth had $100 attached.

 

Ticket sales and use

We have used the two part tickets where you call out the winning number but this takes too much time.

We use a one-part ticket.

Member writes his or her name on the back of the ticket.  To speed this process up, we have a clipboard at the Information Desk where people can register a 2-4-digit number or 3-5-letter code name.  This saves tons of writing.  This clipboard will be on the stage during the raffle should there be any disputes.  There never have been.  The person in charge of this registry of codes insures there are no repeats in the codes.  For instance, in 2006, two or three individuals attempted to register "007".  Clearly there can only be one person with this code number.

We sell tickets 4 for a dollar.

Member puts in tickets for the gift he or she desires.  We put a ticket receptacle by each gift.

We put tickets on sale beginning on day two of the Feast.  They are sold at the Information Table.

We have a lock box for the money and the main ticket seller assigned to that job controls the tickets.  We buy single part ticket rolls at Office Depot in 2,000-ticket rolls.  Color does not matter and a mix of colors does not matter.  We primarily buy what is available and have purchased blue, red and yellow colored ticket rolls.  We buy 12,000 tickets minimum.  12,000 sold tickets would net $3,000  We only have about 120 or so attending and about 100 at the actual raffle.  Depending on ticket prices, get more tickets than you could ever use.  We always have some left over for the next year.

The ticket seller unwraps the roll and cuts off tickets in $20 strips or strips of 80 tickets.  This saves lots of time during ticket sales before the raffle.  Most people buy tickets in $20 dollar lots.  If they give a $10 bill, just fold one strip in half and give it to him.  Even making these 80-ticket strips is easy.  Count out one strip and then measure it along the tables you have set up.  Mark the place on the table with Scotch tape and you no longer have to count tickets.

back to top      back to Resources     home

We have a Bible Bowl the second day of the Feast and as gifts to each winning team member [up to 6] we give a Lake Tahoe calendar and $30 in raffle tickets.  That is $180 worth of tickets.  Nice winning gift and no real cost for us.

In the time before the raffle, which begins at 6 or 7 PM, I wander through the crowd giving out free tickets to children, teens, widows and anyone I believe short on funds for the Feast.  As of 2010, we have a new directive on giveaway tickets for those under 14--parents must be present and we limit the number for each child.  We cut off giveaways 30 minutes to start.

I have been known, between the ticket give-away and the Bible Bowl to give away anywhere between $500 and $800 worth of tickets.  This has never been proved to hurt total net income for the night as we are primarily giving these to people who could not have afforded to buy many anyway.  In addition, those that can afford tickets, even if they win $30 worth at the Bible Bowl will buy their usual amount at the raffle night anyway.

There have been times when members will buy tickets and give them away to children, teens and widows.

MONITORING OF GIVEAWAY TICKETS
As of 2009, we now monitor and count how many gifts were won on giveaway tickets.

SPECIAL GIFT GIVING

VERY IMPORTANT

I cannot over emphasize this element.  In the days prior to the raffle and in EVERY announcement about the raffle you tailor an announcement to all parents with small children at the Feast.  By “tailor” I mean word it in such a way that the children do NOT know what you are talking about.

You ask the parents about creating a situation in which EVERY small child is a winner. 

Here is how it works:  The Host of the raffle [usually a minister] and/or a minister have a discussion with each set of parents who have young children at the Feast.  Ask them to provide a specific gift or gifts they know their small child desires or what they think they would like.  These gifts are set out like the others but they are coded in such a way that EVERY ADULT ATTENDING knows that these special gifts are spoken for.

Example:  Mr. Smith buys a doll for his daughter, Sally.  The doll is put on a table---usually in a special area or single area of the room. On the card stock that contains the gift number, put the letter "s" in each corner denoting to the adults in the room that this gift is spoken for.  The host puts a number of dummy tickets in the paper cup so it appears to the child that there is action on this gift. 

During the raffle and at certain times, one of these gifts will come up and of course, as in our example, Sally will win the doll.

This way, every child wins—no matter what.

Note:  We had no parents requesting this service in 2006.

back to top      back to Resources     home

Sometimes the church will help in the providing of some of these gifts.

As adults [generally those not with children] arrive at the raffle, have a staff member show them these gifts and the code [the little ‘s’ marks on the gift number card] and let them know what is being done.  This way they do not waste tickets on these items.

It is possible that no parents will respond but experience has shown that this is VERY important to some parents.

Raffle Day Timing

 

On the day of the raffle, the house staff transforms the room right after services [noon] and we open the doors at 1:00 PM for ticket sales, gift delivery and placement of tickets.

Even though these things are going on, we see to the physical set up as discussed in the next element below.

The house staff knows about our raffle well in advance and how we want tables placed.


back to top     back to Resources     home

You, depending on your own Feast site may have to do your own table arrangements.

We have theater seating in the middle of the room much as we do for services, but we put the rows with more spacing so winners will have a place to put there gifts.

In 2006 we also arranged some chairs in semi-circles for some of the larger family groups.
 

Physical set up of the room.

You will need:

--tables

--Tickets-10,000
--lots of pens

--Scotch tape—6 rolls

--Paper cups-200 or so

--3x5 cards-200 or so
--Scissors-3 pair
--Marking pens

--Punch bowl or some round-bottomed bowl for ticket drawing.

--2 chairs for the stage

--a waste basket for stage

--large garbage can for stage

--microphone and sound system.  The microphone is for the host.

--clipboard and paper for code number/name registration.

Some of these items are explained here and others will be explained in elements below.

This will, of course depend on the shape of your room and what you have in the way of tables.  At Kings Beach we have 6-foot by 18-inch tables.  I have these placed on every wall and everywhere else I can place them, depending on how many gifts we have.  I also use the stage in the front of the room and the Information Table in the rear of the room.

I place the gift along the tables.  In front of each I place a ticket receptacle.  We use 20-ounce drink cups, which you can buy at Costco and Sam’s in 50, 100 and larger cup lots.  Buy 300.  If you are careful they will last more than one year.

Take a pile of 3x5 cards and cut each card in half.  Number the cards 1-200 or so TWICE, so that you have two stacks of cards numbered 1-200 or so.  That is, you have two number ones, two number twos and so on.  For example, take the two cards with the number 54 on it.  One goes on the gift and one goes on the paper cup.  This way there is no doubt what cup goes to what gift.  Also, some members take note of the gifts they put tickets on and listen for those numbers during the raffle [explained below].

For the most part, place the cup behind the gift, otherwise the room will look like a cup convention.  Make sure the gift is effectively displayed.

Use some style in the arrangements of gifts throughout the room.  Spread out the types of gifts and spread out the value gifts among the less value gifts.  This is a loving art and not necessarily a science.  Don’t have all your stuffed animals on one table.  Don’t have all the gift baskets in one area of the room.  Really mix it up.

Note: Place the heavier gifts closer to the stage than the lighter gifts.  This will make it easier for the gift runners.

Do not crowd the tables too much.  Use spacing.  This helps to alleviate confusion and hitting the members with too much visual intake in one place.  On a 6 foot table, depending on normal size [footprint] of the gift, I usually get six or seven gifts per table. 

Continue in next column…

back to top      back to Resources     home

Keep in mind that some gifts will need more than one receptacle, so have blank 3x5 card halves.

Some gifts will need explanation cards.

Some gifts will need “Don’t Touch” or “Fragile” signs.

All money and gift certificates should go on the main stage.  The two chairs for the host and ticket drawer will be just behind these gifts.

Make sure normal traffic by the gifts does not dump gifts on floor.

We put a couple of the normal folding tables together at the back of the room, just in front of the Information Table and provide chairs so members can write their names on the tickets

We use theater seating in the middle of the room.  Put plenty of room between rows so people have place for gifts they win.


 

Team Members

I will list the team members here and then explain each as a separate item.

1) Host –person with the microphone who announces the winner and who keeps the evening lively.

2) Ticket Selector—person who draws winning tickets.

3) Quality Control Person--Insures lively flow, monitors bonus gifts, controls gifts for people not present and fills in where needed.

4) Gift Display Person - usually recruited from year to year.

5) Team 1 of runners --one to two people.  Runs gift and tickets to Gift Display Person and Ticket Selector.

6) Team 2 of runners --one to two people
 

7) Gift Selector—person who decides what gift is raffled next. 


back to top      back to Resources     home

This is an 8 to 10-person team.

They will get better year-to-year.

PRIMARY DIRECTIVE AND GOAL OF THE TEAM:  Raffle one item every 70 seconds OR FASTER.

One a minute would be better.

Note:  in 2006, we put out exactly 200 gifts in 2 hours and 15 minutes or one every 40.5 seconds!!

In 2009, we put out 205 gifts in 135 minutes or one every 39.5 seconds!!

 

Host

I am the traditional Host for the Kings Beach raffle.  This is my BABY!!

Host sits in a chair on the stage in front of theater seating.  He has a microphone.  He has the Code Number/Name register nearby and a wastebasket.

Your host should be a baptized member.  He is generally a minister or local elder but not always.

Host must be friendly, witty, lively and with a good stage presence.  Host should have a good voice.

Make sure the Host has water and/or refreshment on the stage, as his mouth will get dry.

Host is handed the winning ticket by the Ticket Selector.  Host gives this ticket back to the Ticket Selector after the winner declared.  Ticket Selector will discard all tickets for each prize [including that winning ticket] after the prize is given.

back to top      back to Resources     home

Duties and Responsibilities:  To act as general host to the evening.

To dispense raffle information.

When the gift comes up to the stage and is put in the hands of the Gift Display Person, he announces the Gift Number and what the gift is.  He may often have to repeat himself.

If it is a Special Gift, he makes that known using code language, such as this is an “s” gift.

The Host takes the winning ticket from the Ticket Selector and announces the name or code name or number.

Makes sure winner gets gift.

Gives the winning ticket back to the Ticket Selector for disposal.

Oversees his team to make sure things are moving fast.

Gives the Bonus money gifts.  Selects what those gifts are.

Oversees placement of all gifts on the tables.

Insures that one gift goes out every 40-60 seconds or less.

Maintains quality and reputation of the raffle.

 

Ticket Selector

Our Ticket Selector for several years has been Penny from the Yakima church.

She sits in a chair on the stage next to the Host within easy reach, as she must give winning ticket to Host.

Penny has a punchbowl or round-bottomed bowl for tickets.  She selects the winning ticket from this bowl.

She has a large waste can next to chair for quick dumping of undrawn tickets.  She dumps the losing tickets just after she gives the winning ticket to the Host.

This is your most important person as relating to faithfulness, honesty, good reputation and being above reproach.

back to top      back to Resources     home

Duties and Responsibilities:

Receives tickets from the runner team member. 

Gazes at ceiling or closes eyes and uses “washing machine” method of drawing tickets.  Her hand goes round and round in the mass of tickets 5 or 6 times minimum and then selects a ticket.  She does not look at the ticket but simply hands it to the Host.

This person MUST be a baptized adult.  No children or teens.

Gift Display Person

This can be an older child or teen—male or female.  This duty may also be performed by an adult.

Their job is to take the gift from the runner and hold it up.

They sometimes shout out the number or what the gift is. 

back to top      back to Resources     home

Duties and Responsibilities:

Display the gift.

Give the gift to the winner.

Running Team Members

As stated, we have one or two teams of runners, each with two members.  In 2006, we use only one team.

If your people are exceptional, you could have one-person teams but this may be somewhat more taxing.

They need to be in good health as they will be the most active—non-stop for the whole evening.  They could easily cover 5 miles in an evening at a brisk pace.

These can be responsible teens though my team is actually adult males with good running shoes.

Generally speaking, throughout the evening, there will be one team approaching or at the stage while the other is with the Gift Selector getting the next gift.

Their goal is to make sure that JUST AS SOON AS ONE GIFT IS GIVEN AWAY, ANOTHER IS READY TO GO.

back to top      back to Resources     home

Duties and Responsibilities:

They report to the Gift Selector.

One team member takes the gift.
One team member takes the tickets.

Note: in 2006, we had one team of runners.  Each carried the gift and the ticket receptacle.

The one with the gift reports to the Gift Display Person and quickly rushes back to Gift Selector.

The one with the tickets---still in the cup reports to the Ticket Selector and dumps the tickets into the punch bowl and puts the cups somewhere on the stage [stacks them throughout the evening] for use next year.  Once he dumps the tickets and secures the cup, he rushes back to the Gift Selector.

The Gift Selector

This is an important person to the team, as he or she will actually set the tone for the whole evening.

There is both science and art in what he or she does.

Lee from Montana has been our Gift Selector for most of our last 10 years.

Lee begins the evening by selecting the gifts with the least tickets and working his way up through those with more and finally those with the most. 

Generally the money goes last as does, the last designated gift, which has traditionally been a large stuffed bear—soft and huggable.

back to top      back to Resources     home

Duties and Responsibilities:

Selects gifts, beginning with the least tickets to those with more and those with most.

At certain intervals, he will select the Special Gifts [see above].

He is first Overseer to the Running Teams and insures, as best he can, that one team is at the stage, delivering a gift every 60 seconds or so.  He is key to hitting our GOAL of getting a gift out every 60 seconds.

The Gift Selector begins his duties about 40 minutes prior to the 7:00 PM start and he might even make a list of the first 30 or 40 items that are going to come up based on tickets he sees in the cups.

 

Team Member Gift Winning

Experience has shown that, although it is perfectly fine for Team Members to buy tickets and to win gifts, it somehow just does not look right from the audience.  Can you imagine Penny drawing a ticket, giving it to me and me announcing that Penny just won?  Or better yet, taking the ticket from her and announcing that I WON!!  This just does not set right with me, so no person attending the Raffle will witness ANY team member, with the possible exception of the child, who is the Gift Display Person winning a gift.  

Here is what we do.  All Team Members either have their non-working spouse or other family member put their names [the non-working spouse or family member] on the back of the tickets OR use a code name/number which, when announced is collected by a spouse, family member or friend.

back to top      back to Resources     home

The only exception to this rule, that I recall, is when there was some playful, competitive banter between myself and Vern from Arizona. We were competing for the same bottle of Scotch.  I just happened to win the Scotch and had a few fun words to exchange with Vern about that.

Being Above Reproach

The Raffle must be conducted in such a way so there is never a claim of impropriety, cheating, fraud, or just plain sloppy work.  Team members need to be sensitive to all members and guest present.

This is why my comments on the Ticket Selector above and for Team Member Gift Winning. 

Everyone attending the Raffle must be assured, by what they witness that all is done honestly and properly.  It might be recommended that there be a minister present who is not part of the Team who fields anyone openly voicing a complaint of some kind.  It has happened in the past.

It is not to be assumed that everyone attending is a baptized member with the Holy Spirit, making good progress in the Salvation Process.

Indeed, sometimes members bring unconverted, visiting family members or even invite people from the town where the Feast is being held.

back to top      back to Resources     home

Tip:  Runners should select their routes to and from the stage so as not to invade a seating area or anyone’s “staked out” personal space.  Be on the look out for children, the infirmed and those who might be moving about [trips to the restroom or collecting a gift].

Tip:  Gift Selector should never allow himself to be influenced by member, guest or child in the area of his gift selection…”do this one next!!” and the like.

Fact:  Each Team Member “owns” his or her team position.  Though there are overseer’s here and there as described in this paper, the position is administrated by that Team Member.

PRACTICE RUN  -with start time being 6:00 PM

Let us rehearse just how this works.  Swiftness and Smoothness are the keys.  The team is a well-oiled, smooth running machine that starts and does not stop until the last gift is given.  The following is based on a 6:00 PM start for the raffle.

1) It is Noon or just after services.  House staff sets up the tables and arranges the room.  Most team members rush home to change clothes, get a quick bite and report to meeting room.

2) It is 1:00 PM.  Host is at the meeting room seeing to all arrangements.  He begins gift placement.  Other team members place cups and numbers [on gifts and cups].  It does not matter what order the numbers are used or placed.  That is, the gifts do not need to be arranged in some numerical order.

Ticket Seller [in our case, Dev from the Yakima church] is at his station selling tickets, making 80 ticket strips and guarding both tickets and money.  He or other staff member at Information Table is registering code names/numbers.

Members are arriving with gifts, buying tickets, registering code names or numbers, writing their names or code names/numbers on tickets, and placing tickets.  There is also much fellowship.  Everyone is dressed casual.

Host is wandering the room with his microphone and give away tickets.  He is hyping the raffle and dispensing general information and generally having a good time.  He is giving away tickets at random.  He may also be giving away other free tickets bought by members for giving away.

Security people [in our case, some of our Team Members] are watching gifts to prevent theft from outsiders and to insure children are not touching items they should not on the gift tables.

3) It is about 5:00 PM.  The physical layout is done.  Everything is in readiness.  All gifts are displayed.  All gifts have a ticket cup and both gift and cup have matching numbers.  Chairs, punch bowl, wastebasket and garbage can are on stage.

The Host tours the room to make sure everything is in readiness.  He checks the microphone and tests the sound system if he hasn’t already.  He meets with the Team by the stage and goes over any last minute details.  He informs the Gift Selector about the Special Gifts and any gifts he may want saved for last or toward the last.

 

The Host selects the 4 bonus gifts and writes their numbers on a 3x5 card and put this in his shirt pocket.

4) It is 5:20 PM.  The Gift Selector makes his tour and possibly writes down a list of the first 30 to 40 gifts that will be raffled.

5) It is 5:30-5:40 PM. Ticket Seller ends ticket sales.  Judgment call really.  He chooses the time to end sales, but must realize that it takes a lot of time for a person to write his or her name or code number/name on the back of the tickets and then place them.  He takes Code Name/Number registry to stage.  He secures money and unsold tickets.

6) It is 5:50 PM.  Team Members get to their start positions.  Gift Selector near his first chosen gift.  Runner Teams with Gift Selector.  Gift Display Person, Ticket Selector and Host on Stage.  Hosts asks everyone to take a seat and that the Raffle is about to begin.

7) It is 5:55 PM.  The Host asks everyone to stand and opens in prayer.

8) It is 5:58 PM.  Both Running Teams are up by the stage with the first two gifts.

9) It is 6:00 PM.  Time to begin!!  First item is displayed, ticket drawn, winning ticket given to Host, winner announced, gift given by Gift Display Person and next gift already at the stage.  Tickets for next item being put in punch bowl, having just been emptied by Ticket Selector and the next gift being placed in the hands of the Gift Display Person.

10) It is 6:02 PM.  Item 9 repeats over and over again until last gift given.  The ONLY slow downs are:

 

a) When the bonus gift arrives and Host rings the bell, announces this is a bonus gift selection and gets the money ready.  When winner approaches to get gift, he or she collects money bonus from Host.

b) When a special gift arrives.  There may be a little lag her as the, sometimes, young child comes up, sometimes with the parent, to collect the gift.

11) The evening is ended.  Hopefully the time goal was met and everyone had a wonderful time.  Team Members should help anyone who needs aid in getting gifts to their cars.  One Kings Beach attending family, I won’t mention here (smile), will need help with their moving van for all the gifts the traditionally seem to win.

12)  Just before the Lights go out. The Team Members are the last to leave the meeting room, doing some basic clean up, securing of physical articles, church property and the moneybox.

 

Historical Observations

I suppose that many people see the Raffle as just one of many physical aspects to the Feast and a time for great fellowship and fun.  I, personally see it as something very spiritual and a great time for the power of the Holy Spirit to be invoked in the form of love and joy and giving…and patience and longsuffering too.  It is also a time of Godly providence as I have come to the overwhelming conclusion that God is front and center giving out the gifts.

Two cases in point:

1) It always seems that those most in need receive the money gifts.

2) That the other gifts always seem to go to the perfect individual or family for that particular gift.

Both personally and by observation, I have noticed that greed is not blessed at the raffle.  In a four-year period, I noticed that in two of them I bought huge amounts of tickets and ganged up on a desired gift or gifts.  I mean, sometimes I would put in 100 tickets on a desired item.  NEVER RECEIVED THE GIFT.  In fact, those years I hardly had any wins. 

In the other two years, I bought a more moderate amount of tickets and placed not more than five or six on any one gift.  Those were the great years, if measured in number of gifts I won.

On the give-away tickets to widows:  I once saw a widow who had only about eight dollars worth of tickets.  Someone gave her about twenty or thirty dollars worth and, as I recall she won somewhere between five and seven gifts including something she was really hoping for.  It just so happens that she had bought red tickets and the tickets gifted to her were yellow and most of her wins came from the yellow tickets.  This gets me all excited inside.  The ticket give-away program is a wonderful thing to witness and be a part of.

I also have observed over the years something else that warms my heart.  I see individuals win a gift and then turn around and give it to someone else in the room.  Now THAT is the Feast!!