BULLVILLE — The Rev. Bert Lloyd wanted to find a way to bring new people to his church.
But he didn't want soaring gas prices to get in the way of salvation. So he promoted, by word of mouth, an unusual offer from his Bread of Life Assembly of God Church in Bullville: $10 Exxon gas cards would be given to all visiting families.
Twenty-two new families, comprising between 80 and 100 people, showed up.
"Why not do whatever we can to bring people to Christ?" Lloyd said. "That's my main thought. Bringing them to the church is secondary."
Churches are not the only institutions taking creative measures to help people bear the burden of high gas prices. Nationally, some employers are offering their workers gas cards. And in a handful of states, churches have offered some sort of relief from soaring gas prices in an effort to keep up attendance and attract new members. Earlier this month, a church in Baltimore offered gas at a local station at a 50-cents-per-gallon discount. The offer lasted three hours and nearly 100 people took advantage of the incentive.
On a normal Sunday there are about 250 people who attend the church on Route 17K. But the real testament to the success of the effort for Lloyd was the 20 people, including five children, who accepted the offer of salvation at the end of church service.
"This is the epitome of joy for us," said Lloyd, who plans to do this again in the future.
"If they never come back, we've accomplished what we set out to do; to see people come to the Lord."
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080630/NEWS/806300321
But he didn't want soaring gas prices to get in the way of salvation. So he promoted, by word of mouth, an unusual offer from his Bread of Life Assembly of God Church in Bullville: $10 Exxon gas cards would be given to all visiting families.
Twenty-two new families, comprising between 80 and 100 people, showed up.
"Why not do whatever we can to bring people to Christ?" Lloyd said. "That's my main thought. Bringing them to the church is secondary."
Churches are not the only institutions taking creative measures to help people bear the burden of high gas prices. Nationally, some employers are offering their workers gas cards. And in a handful of states, churches have offered some sort of relief from soaring gas prices in an effort to keep up attendance and attract new members. Earlier this month, a church in Baltimore offered gas at a local station at a 50-cents-per-gallon discount. The offer lasted three hours and nearly 100 people took advantage of the incentive.
On a normal Sunday there are about 250 people who attend the church on Route 17K. But the real testament to the success of the effort for Lloyd was the 20 people, including five children, who accepted the offer of salvation at the end of church service.
"This is the epitome of joy for us," said Lloyd, who plans to do this again in the future.
"If they never come back, we've accomplished what we set out to do; to see people come to the Lord."
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080630/NEWS/806300321
