Gas Prices Affecting Church Attendance?

[Sam]

Has the increase in gas prices affected your church attendance?

like just going every other Sunday morning instead of each Sunday morning?
or discontinuing going on Sunday nights?
or discontinuing going during the week?

I attended two services during a revival last week at a church (Church of Jesus Christ) which is 155 miles round trip from here. It is a small church and I went as an encouragement to the pastor and the people he had preaching for him. There were 11 people there one night and 12 the other night. I've preached there twice --once last month and once last August-- and there were just 4 of us there both times. We have two vehicles --an 11 year old Odyssey Van and a 2006 Toyota Tacoma pick up truck. I made both trips in the Tacoma because it gets better mileage. It's the vehicle I usually drive anyway. I had to fill up my pickup truck twice (still have half a tank left) and had to fill up the van also that week. So I wound up spending $144.33 for gas last week for 3 fill ups and that was with the Kroger discount. When I was at the church Sunday night I told the pastor that with the distance from my house to the church and the cost of gas it would probably be a while before he'll see me there again.

[SRM]

$144 dollars?..that was a nice offering sir

[Sam]

Originally Posted by SRM

$144 dollars?..that was a nice offering sir

$144 was not the cost of just attending that church. The van just happened to need gas last week and I still have half a tank of gas in the truck. So, just about 45 dollars were needed to make the two trips to the revival.

Actually, that pastor does not pass the plate or receive offerings in the traditional manner. He leaves a basket on the altar and if/when someone wants to give they just drop something in there without a plea for money. He does some times mention after the service that the basket is there if anyone wants to give anything. So, my cost to attend the two services was 40 something dollars for gas plus wear and tear on the truck plus $30 dollars (20 and 10) for 2 offerings.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Sam

$144 was not the cost of just attending that church. The van just happened to need gas last week and I still have half a tank of gas in the truck. So, just about 45 dollars were needed to make the two trips to the revival.

Actually, that pastor does not pass the plate or receive offerings in the traditional manner. He leaves a basket on the altar and if/when someone wants to give they just drop something in there without a plea for money. He does some times mention after the service that the basket is there if anyone wants to give anything. So, my cost to attend the two services was 40 something dollars for gas plus wear and tear on the truck plus $30 dollars (20 and 10) for 2 offerings.

Foreign missions offering. The Arabs are very gratefull.

[seguidordejesus]

Yes.

[ImThankful]

Gas prices havent affected our attendance yet at all.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by ImThankful

Gas prices havent affected our attendance yet at all.

Mine, either.

[MawMaw]

I've noticed that there are more things that just high gas prices that seem to affect church attendance.

[Aquila]

If the economy crashes into a depression, I fear for how these top heavy religious incorporations will survive.

Something big is coming. That's why I believe the Lord is slowly turning people to more homebased organic meetings.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

If the economy crashes into a depression, I fear for how these top heavy religious incorporations will survive.

Something big is coming. That's why I believe the Lord is slowly turning people to more homebased organic meetings.

That is what another poster has posted repeatedly. Do you think a greater, more widespread economic collapse is on the horizon?