Maryland Church Inspired by Jesus to Offer Free BP Gas to Local Community This Saturday

(PHOTO: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DISTRICT HEIGHTS/BOBBY MANNING)
Pastor Bobby Manning of First Baptist Church of District Heights, a suburb of Maryland, is seen handing out groceries to community residents in this undated photo.

Long lines of Maryland residents and those in surrounding areas are expected to queue Saturday at a BP gas station to receive free gas for their cars as part of a Maryland church’s effort to have a ministry like Jesus.

The First Baptist Church of District Heights will be hosting a “Gas Buy-Down” event where locals can fill their gas tanks free of charge for up to $20. Co-sponsored by a local BP gas station along Marlboro Pike, the event will be held from 8am to 11am and is intended to provide some financial relief for members of the community and surrounding areas. (See below for the event address).

“We love to look for ways to reach our community in the most creative and fun ways possible,” First Baptist’s Senior Pastor Bobby Manning told The Christian Post on Wednesday. Manning said he first got the idea for a “Gas Buy-Down” from a pastor in New York and wanted to replicate it for his District Heights community. “I kind of took the idea and ran with it and got our team on it. We have a really great team.”

The pastor and many members of the church will be at the gas pumps servicing as many vehicles as possible. The free gas is not limited to Maryland residents — District and Virginia residents are also welcome.

First Baptist partnered with the local BP station to make the event possible, said Manning, who added that the price of the gas was not a factor in the church’s partnership, rather the willingness of the station to team up with them, and the station’s proximity to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Pastor Manning said the church doesn’t expect BP, or any other event partners, to donate their services. “When we approach local proprietors like this we don’t approach them with any expectation that they will bring anything to the table,” he told CP. “We would approach with the expectation that ‘Hey, we’re going to pay for everything, and if you want to partner with us and to give funds, then we would love for it to be a team effort.'”

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SOURCE: The Christian Post
Kevin Porter