Writing

Church fuels holiday spirit
Members donate gasoline, treats to area motorists

By: Kelly Steuck - Published in the Quad-City Times on Sunday, December 19, 2004

Those who missed QUAD-CITY TIMES columnist Bull Wundram’s column Thursday were in for a little surprise when they stopped for gas in West Davenport on Saturday.

Melissa Elfgin, a passenger in a friend’s van, said they had no clue that they would be welcomed at the Credit Island Citgo station, 2080 West River Drive, with coffee, hot chocolate, cookies, a windshield cleaning, a capping off on wiper fluid and $2.85 deducted from their gas purchase.

“It’s cool,” Elfgin, of Davenport, said in awe.

The Westside Assembly of God Church was responsible for the gift of gas. More than 20 members of the congregation were there to help out. Between the church members and employees of the gas station, drivers didn’t even need to get out of their car to pay. Instead, employees ran in the payments and returned change to the drivers.

The plan was that each motorist stopping at the station was to be given a card that read: “This card is good for $2.85 off your gas purchase today. It is reducing five gallons of gas by 57 cents each.”

By 2:30 p.m., more than 130 cars had been serviced and all of the little cards were out. But the church members remained as promised until 3 p.m., bringing treats to drivers and passengers as they waited at the pump.

A few months ago, the Rev. Ray Corlew shared with his parishioners the story of a little girl and 57 cents. It was a story he had received by e-mail that most people probably would have just ignored as spam.

“This one just clicked to me and stood out,” Corlew said.

The story was called “What God can do with 57 cents,” and told about a young girl, Hattie May Wiatt, who was turned away from Sunday school. She was told that the class was too crowded. Dr. Russell H. Conwell, the pastor who found her crying, guessed that the real reason was because she couldn’t afford it. He took her hand and found a place for her in one of the classes.

Two years later, in 1886, the little girl lay dead in the arms of her parents. They called the kind pastor to help them with final arrangements. While moving the body, they found a purse containing a note and 57 cents. The note read, “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children to go to Sunday School.”

A Philadelphia newspaper learned of the story and published it. Having read the article, a real estate agent offered Temple Baptist Church some land worth thousands of dollars for them to expand on. When the wealthy Realtor learned the church could not afford it, he offered it to them for 57 cents. His generosity snowballed, as church members followed suit with large donations. Within five years, the little girl’s 57 cents had increased to $250,000, a very large sum for that time.

“I read this story,” Corlew said, “and it hit me that this was something we could do for gas.”

The pastor encouraged the 400-some members of his parish to set aside 57 cents each day for two months. They would then use the money to pay $2.85 of gas purchases. If you do the math, $2.85 is 5 gallons of gas at 57 cents. In all, they raised about $4,000.

“We wanted to demonstrate the spirit of giving because the Lord has been so good to us,” Corlew said.

All motorists were given a copy of the story. According to Sally Behncke, a parishioner of eight years, the story drove one woman to tears. She gladly accepted a wrinkled tissue from Corlew’s pocket as she thanks the church for their generosity.

“It’s a neat way to reach out to the community and give them a piece of Jesus,” Behncke said.

Heather Hall, 15, was there with her stepfather, Wayne Mount, to assist their church. As a teen almost ready to get her driver’s license, Hall was more than happy to help expunge the high cost of gas for people this Christmas season.

“We’re blessed and happy to help other people,” she said.

The event was held at Doyle Reinhart’s Credit Island Citgo because that’s where church leaders take all of the church’s vehicles for gas. Reinhart was not available, but five-year employee Tony Geibelstein was behind the cash register.

“This is the first time I’ve seen anything like this since 9/11,” Geibelstein said of the long lines of motorists.

According to him, cars began lining up at 11:30 a.m. There were too many to fit in the lot that many, coming from either direction, waited on the shoulder of River Drive. They were prepared though. Five rather than the regular two employees per shift were on hand, with one stationed at each pump and Geibelstein at the register.

Pleasantly shocked motorists tried to make donations, but Corlew would have none of that.

“It’s totally our gift to show the reason of the season,” he said.