Church fuels the Gospel in Paragould  

Central Baptist Church – Paragould Campus held a gas giveaway event Saturday, Dec. 3. Submitted

PARAGOULD, Ark. – Tanks were filled with gasoline and hearts with the Gospel this past weekend as Central Baptist Church – Paragould Campus held its fourth gas giveaway event.  

The church supplied more than 5,500 gallons of gasoline on Saturday, Dec. 3, for more than 600 families at the Kum & Go on Linwood Drive.  

Breck Freeman, executive pastor at the Paragould Campus, said they had about 80 volunteers manning 20 pumps for two hours. The church pre-paid $25 on every pump. 

“We just saw a need in the community,” Freeman said. “We pump their gas, wash their windshield, invite them to church and share the Gospel.”  

On Saturday, Freeman said they had two cars that had to be pushed to the pump because they were out of gas. He also noted one lady who wanted to give back, so she gave them a pack of crackers because that was all she had to give.  

Additionally, they had a vehicle with a deaf occupant pull up to a pump that happened to be operated by a volunteer who is a speech therapist and knew sign language.  

“It was the Lord at work,” Freeman said. 

Funding for the gas giveaway did not come from the church’s tithes and offerings or building fund, but from the congregation and volunteers who had a desire to give beyond their regular giving to the community. 

“We pump gas for two hours, just love on people and share Jesus with them,” Freeman said. “Sometimes you see them at church the next day and sometimes you don’t. The first thing for us is just to love our community.” 

The Paragould Campus was launched in 2018 by Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro.