Texas megachurch offers free mortgage and rent payments to lucky churchgoers on New Year's Day

The New Light Christian Center in Houston, Texas will be paying the mortgage and rent of select churchgoers who will attend the service on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

According to an unnamed church official, the mortgage and rent payments is an annual raffle that was devised by the church's pastor, Bishop I.V. Hillard, to encourage church members to attend the service on New Year's Day, The Christian Post reported.

The event was advertised by the church on its Facebook page last Saturday, but the church official stated that it has been promoting the raffle since October.

The church has not revealed how many payments will be raffled to the churchgoers, but the official said that the congregation will be informed either on the night before or the day of the service.

"They are not discussing that information at this time. There is a budget but only the pastors have that. I don't think they will be willing to give that information out," said the official.

According to the church's website, New Light Christian Center has over 20,000 members, and it has six locations in Texas. It has been listed as one of the Top 50 most influential churches in the United States. The ministry includes an aviation division, a credit union, and an early childhood development center.

In 2013, Hilliard generated some controversy when he asked his congregation to sow $52 "favor seeds" so that he could upgrade his helicopter blades. He said in a newsletter that those who would contribute would receive "breakthrough favor" within 52 days or 52 weeks.

"Our Aviation Department has an opportunity that will save the ministry well over $50K if we will move on it right away. My Aviation Manager stated that while repairing our helicopter they discovered that if we upgrade our blades today, it will save thousands in the days to come," he stated.

Hilliard was hospitalized about a month ago due to an unspecified health issue. He recently returned to the church, which issued a statement that his faith remains strong, and he is on his way to "total healing."