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‘I Thank God for This’—Churches Give Away Thousands of Dollars Worth of Gas to Those in Need

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Mount Zion Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C. gave away free gas, cleaned windshields and checked tire pressure for 200 cars on March 19, 2022.

Soaring gas prices across the United States are prompting churches throughout the country to meet the needs of their communities by giving away free gas. Many churches are also using these opportunities to encourage and pray for those who show up. 

“We see what’s going on in the world,” said Odell Watson, senior pastor of Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach, Fla. “The war in Ukraine, we’re coming out of a pandemic, and there are so many hurting.” 

Payne Chapel will give away $20 worth of gas per vehicle at the Wawa gas station here Tuesday, March 22, starting at 10 a.m.  

Watson said that meeting the needs of the community is one the purposes of the church. “Jesus, he not only met spiritual needs, but he met physical needs as well…Just helping someone with gas reminds them we’re in this together. at the end of the day we’re all Americans, and when someone is in need, we should be willing to help and do what we can.”

Free Gas and More: US Churches Meet Needs

Another Chance Church in Chicago gave away $50 worth of gas per vehicle Sunday, March 20, handing out $27,000 in gas when all was said and done. Another Chicago church, New Life Covenant Church Southeast, raised $5,000 at one time when Senior Pastor John Hannah asked for 200 people to donate $25 each so that the church could provide free gas to people in need. The church did its gas giveaway on Saturday, March 19. Prior to the event, Pastor Terrance Wallace said, “There will be traffic control pumping the gas, encouraging people, praying with people, just really trying to bring hope to the community.” 

On that same Saturday, Mount Zion Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C. gave away free gas, cleaned windshields and checked tire pressure for 200 cars. One hundred fifty cars had lined up by 4 a.m. 

“Lots of people are hurting,” Joe Frierson, the church’s young adult pastor, told the Greensboro News & Record. “Lots of pain that’s not their fault. It’s the responsibility of those who have been blessed to bless others.”