Gas give-away causes 'traffic jam for Jesus'

Courtesy photo

Members of First Baptist Church in Eagle Lake gave away balloons to hundreds of motorists waiting their turns to get free gas.

EAGLE LAKE (FBW)—On a day that Pastor Jeff Buchanan called "Let's be a Missionary," First Baptist Church in Eagle Lake members pumped free gas into 398 cars and shared Jesus with hundreds of motorists in their central Florida community.

The Feb. 9 gas give-away was widely promoted by local media and drivers pulled their cars into eight-mile-long lines to await the free gas.

Some lined up at the 7-11 store at U.S. 17 and Hwy 551 eleven hours before the event was to begin at 9 a.m.

The lines in four directions created what Buchanan called "a traffic jam for Jesus" and 12 sheriff's deputies maintained order in the crush. Considering the crowd, church volunteers began pumping gas one hour earlier than advertised. Several cars had to be pushed to the pumps after they ran out of gas in line.

While motorists waited, clowns entertained children and gave away balloons. Others of the 65 volunteers gave away 400 Bibles and the church's entire supply of Gospel tracts.

The 7-11 store "really teamed up with us," the pastor said, and offered free brownies and Slurpees to the crowd. Volunteers prayed and shared Jesus with the motorists as they waited. As a result, the church counted 30 professions of faith among the gas recipients.

Buchanan told Florida Baptist Witness the Eagle Lake congregation wanted to make a big impact in its community, and decided on the gas give-away as a method of creating a stir.

Church members donated $11,830 so that each car could receive $30 in gas. Some of the recipients left thank you notes with the pastor, expressing their gratitude for the church's gesture in "hard times." One wrote that he had lost his job three days ago, a friend had died, and the free gas enabled him to go to the funeral.

The Eagle Lake church is no novice in planning uncommon evangelistic events. The congregation hosts block parties and July Fourth barbecues, gives away school supplies and hurricane kits containing five meals in a cooler. On the night of the gas give-away, an Elvis impersonator entertained and gave his testimony at a dinner at the church.

"Some ideas that God lays on your heart, you have to step out of the box to do," Buchanan said.

In a standing-room-only morning service Feb. 10, five new believers joined the church.

"God got the glory for all of this, and that it what it is all about," Buchanan said.