The cost of going to church has DOUBLED within the past 2 years because gas prices have doubled. And experts predict they’ll go even higher.

Imagine what that means for your members who don’t live close to the church. 

An example: Jane is spending close to $500 a year on gas to go to your church.

Here’s the breakdown: Jane lives 5 miles from your church and drives the family to church each Sunday in a minivan that gets 15 miles mpg in the city. Roundtrip = 10 miles.  Rounded for the sake of argument at today’s $4+ per gallon = $3 in gas.

But Jane also brings the kids to fellowship on Wednesday night ($3), PLUS, she comes to Thursday night choir practice ($3), once a month to the Mission meeting (another $3), and once or twice a month to drop off clothing or help with a project.  All totaled, Jane is driving about 150 “church miles” a month. At 15 miles to the gallon, and $4 a gallon for gas, that’s about $40 per month or $500 a year.

Now add Jane’s husband who goes to HIS OWN events and meetings, and Jane’s teenage son who goes to youth group every Sunday. They go to church together (except when the son wants to drive his own car). Now you’re in the neighborhood of $600+ a year in gasoline just to belong to your church.

If gas goes up another 10% this year, as many experts predict, Jane’s family will need $660 to get to your church. If it goes up another 20% to $5 a gallon as some predict, then Jane’s family will need $720 just to get to your church. Now imagine the cost of this for a member who lives 10 miles away!

Studies are showing that $4 gas prices are finally forcing people to cut back their driving. As they rise, will they also force people to re-evaluate which churches they belong too?  Time will tell.

If your church is a “regional” church, such as a downtown church, then gas prices are SURE to affect many of your member’s decisions, and perhaps even their decision to join.

Things you can do to help:

1. Carpool. Help members who live at a distance to connect with each other and carpool. Carpooling might just encourage their attendance too!  …as they will be calling to remind each other about meetings and events. One simple way is to post a large map with pushpins at your church. Another way is to “sort” names in your church directory by location, rather than by alphabet, and print copies of it (and post on your website). Appoint a ‘captain’ of each ‘precinct’ to contact members about carpooling.

2. Consolidate Meeting Schedules. Look at your schedule and try to have “meeting nights” so that husband and wife who volunteer can drive together. Hold adult Bible studies during kids fellowship events.

3. Encourage alternatives to “driving to Church.”  Publish bus schedules. Encourage “BIKE NIGHTS” or “Walk-in Nights.”  Not every one could do this, but it would get the message.

4. Reduce unnecessary meetings. ’nuff said.

5. Utilize technology. Explore virtual meeting tools, such as message boards and even video cam meetings. Use email to replace “report” meetings.

6. Create “Team Huddles” that piggyback on other events they are already coming to. A team huddle is a short meeting you hold after worship, or before Bible study. (See my notes about “team huddles” in my Advice for Church Staff blog thread.)

7. Discuss with members how the cost of driving to church can be dramatically affected by having a more fuel-efficient car, …or if they have two cars in the garage to choose from, -picking the more fuel efficient car to get to church.

Addendum: If my family is spending $700 next year driving to your church, that’s money I can’t spend GIVING to the church. Now multiply that by the number of OTHER families having to spend that.

In one small church I used to belong to, I know of MANY families who lived more than 5 miles from the church. 20 families in that small church were easily living 5+ miles away. Collectively, they were spending $14,000 a year just to get to church in 2007.