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]

$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]

$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]

Gas prices havent affected our attendance yet at all.

Mine, either. :D

[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]

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?

[NorCal]

Yes, Gas prices have affected my Church attendance. But he has blessed me this week with a 40% pay increase, even in these economic times. And as such, I can be more faithful to the Congregation of God.

[sandie]

Yes, Gas prices have affected my Church attendance. But he has blessed me this week with a 40% pay increase, even in these economic times. And as such, I can be more faithful to the Congregation of God.

:thumbsup

God isn't constrained by any economy, world event, political leadership or lack thereof!

I rejoice with you and praise the Lord!

[Aquila]

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

I'd not be surprised. This book is very disturbing:

The Return of the Great Depression [Hardcover]
Vox Day (Author)

Product Description
In this sophisticated yet readable book, Vox Day - one of the few economics writers to predict the current worldwide financial crisis - explains why it is likely to continue.

Day shows that the policies being pursued in Europe, Asia, and the United States are very similar to Japan's failed policies of the past twenty years and, therefore, doomed to similar results. According to Day, the economic theories behind those policies are flawed and account for why most economists were unable to anticipate the recession or see that their expectations of an imminent recovery are incorrect. Day applies a different theory, the one he used to predict the current crisis, to show that the world is in the early stages of a massive economic contraction. Then he turns to the six scenarios presently envisioned by the world's leading economists and assesses which is most likely to unfold. As the title suggests, Day concludes that the most probable scenario is a Great Depression 2.0 that will be larger in scale and scope than that of the 1930s.


About the Author
Vox Day graduated in 1990 from Bucknell University with degrees in Economics and Asian Studies. He is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, the International Game Developers Association, and Mensa, and helped found the techno band Psykosonik. In addition to his weekly columns, he transmits contagious and controversial memes daily from the Vox Popoli blog.

http://www.amazon.com/Return-Great-Depression-Vox-Day/dp/1935071181

[Aquila]

If a more wide spread economic contraction takes place.... churches might encounter what they encountered during the Great Depression.

[unitedpraise10]

Our churches attendance hasn't been affected. Primary, (my opinion) due to the fact that our church is located in a metropolitan area of 1.1 million. People take metro buses to our church as a matter of fact. We run 425 consistently....our church seats 450. Packed house on Sunday Morning & Sunday Night!

I will add....there is something about a packed out crowed in an Apostolic church. The energy level is just incredible...

[NorCal]

Our churches attendance hasn't been affected. Primary, (my opinion) due to the fact that our church is located in a metropolitan area of 1.1 million. People take metro buses to our church as a matter of fact. We run 425 consistently....our church seats 450. Packed house on Sunday Morning & Sunday Night!

I will add....there is something about a packed out crowed in an Apostolic church. The energy level is just incredible...

Public Transportation on Sunday? How ungodly. LoL.

[coadie]

Public Transportation on Sunday? How ungodly. LoL.

Are you referring to Jews and the day before?

[unitedpraise10]

Public Transportation on Sunday? How ungodly. LoL.

There is a metro stop right in front of our building. Kinda cool....

[coadie]

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

Quoting a prosperus Jewish friend. A recession starts in your head.

[Margies3]

Gas prices have not affected attendance at our church either. We live in a small town, so if the gas prices get so high that even driving the 5 blocks to our church is too much, we could always walk. In fact, sometimes in better weather, we do that now. My son does it alot!

[Praxeas]

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.
You still have to drive to that home.

[Sam]

You still have to drive to that home.

yes, but, I think the idea of a home meeting is that it would ordinarily be local or near where you live. Some times folks drive 15-50 miles to a local church building. In my opinion, a home church would be in your neighborhood or in a nearby neighborhood.

[NorCal]

I do miss the days when my church did Tuesday night home sessions. This would actually help a lot of elderly people who can not make it on Sundays to a designated Church Building.

[ForeverBlessed]

I haven't been attending my church on Wed night, I spend about $8 to drive there, and I don't always have it. I just attend a church or bible study here instead. I also attend a few small groups through the week, but I do miss our bible study.

[Hoovie]

We live an hour from church so rarely attend Wed services anyway. I understand some churches went to a single Sun. service about the time of the last gas hike 2-3 yrs ago.