Church group takes some of the sting out of gas prices

News 8 Austin ^ | 6/23/2007 | News 8 Austin Staff

[P-40]

One Cedar Park church is reaching out to the community by helping to take the pain out of paying at the pump.

Northview Community Church held a gas buydown Saturday at a local Chevron station. The church paid 30 cents per gallon off the price of gas. Church members also cleaned windshields.

Pat Green, the pastor of Northview Church, said the buyout was a great way to reach out to people.

"We thought, 'Let's go out there and let people know our church is here.' We're a new church so it was a great way to meet a lot of our neighbors in the community and just do a service," he said.

The good word spread quickly and the church discounted about 1,700 gallons of gas in less than two hours.

Green said the church hopes to continue outreach programs such as the buydown in the future.

[P-40]

Now how is this for a bit of creative advertising? :)

[marron]

Probably cheaper than a radio spot and people don’t change the station while its playing.

[PAR35]

Smart move. More bang for the buck than about $500 will usually buy.

[P-40]

I’m betting it is. The church spent about $500 bucks and is getting a large amount of media coverage for doing it. :)

[rovenstinez]

Too bad they didn’t have them fill up at Citgo. Love thine enemies

[TxCopper]

Cedar Park isn’t exactly what I would call a poor community.

[TheBattman]

Cedar Park isn’t exactly what I would call a poor community.

Who pooped in your Cheerios today? I guess this new church in the neighborhood was suppose to go to some other neighborhood and meet THOSE neighbors...

I guess you missed the whole point of their work.

[TxCopper]

I guess so. Charity for those who, by the very definition, don’t need it, isn’t such.

[Politicalmom]

So rich people don’t deserve to hear the gospel?

[don-o]

Can you read? This is about outreach.

[TxCopper]

Yeah. I can read. Can you?

[TxCopper]

Not if it is a bribe.

[TxCopper]

I don’t know what part of reality that you live in, but giving a 30 cent discount on fuel is not my idea of ministry.

If they REALLY wanted to minister to those that need it, well they would...

[Politicalmom]

Outreach is not the same as charity.

They were trying to get people interested in their church and spread the Gospel. The financial state of their audience was irrelevant.

[TxCopper]

First of all, thanks for your continued advancement of FDT. However, Outreach is not in my bible. Charity is, however.

[Politicalmom]

Never heard of the Great Commission, huh?