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"There's no question Jesus came to this Earth and met physical needs. Our goal was to meet the need," Marquart said. "We wanted to tell people we cared about them without ties or caveats, and that's truly the biblical model."

Responses to gas hikes have taken on a more rustic, pastoral nature for some Texas churches.

At the Lone Star Cowboy Church, the Rev. Jonathan Coe has seen up to 15 horses on any given Sunday in the parking lot, up from the usual three or four. As a pastor of two cowboy congregations 45 minutes apart, Coe has also felt the stress of rising fuel costs.

"It used to cost me $50 to fill up my diesel truck. Now it costs me $132," Coe said. "I would imagine I am spending $1,200 a week between Sunday services, weekly events and Bible study." Limited church funds mean he is only reimbursed for gas half of the time, he said.

Churches are also seeing financial ministries expand, and say requests for food and gasoline assistance are up. A recent Gallup Poll found that approximately one in six Americans cannot afford the cost of driving, and a separate poll of Southern Baptist pastors by LifeWay Research found that 72 percent say the U.S. economy is negatively affecting their churches.

Cindee Coffee, spokeswoman for Southeast Christian Church of Louisville, Ky., said about two-thirds of the 18,000-member congregation is living paycheck to paycheck. Demand for financial counseling has risen, and calls for help in buying buy food and gas have increased on the church's emergency-only after-hours phone line. In addition, some church employees have opted for a four-day workweek to reduce commuting costs.

According to Dave Travis, managing director of Leadership Network, a Dallas-based evangelical think tank, churches have only begun to see the impact of rising fuel costs.

"Everyone thinks of the $4 gas mark, but it also hits the utility bills. There might be a change in service offerings when heating and cooling costs come in the winter," Travis said.

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The Associated Press writes about one man who led a string of prayer vigils at pumps nationwide. The AP also reports that some churches are giving gas cards to boost church attendance.

The Oregonian writes that one church in Oregon donated part of the members' tax returns for community service, combining $1,500 to shave 20 cents off each gallon.

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September 2008, Vol. 52, No. 9