News 12 at 6 o'clock, Sunday, May 15, 2011

AUGUSTA, Ga---Senior citizens at one local church got quite the surprise. They got thousands of dollars in unexpected cash. High gas prices drove Macedonia Baptist Church to act.

Pastor Gregory Fuller calls it his way of giving it forward.

"We honor you," said Pastor Fuller to a large congregation. "We take this time to say thank you."

"I feel happy. I feel good," said senior citizen Vernice Stokes. "I feel blessed."

Pastor Fuller surprised 70 seniors who were 70 years old or older with $50 each.

"Everybody else gets bailed out," said Pastor Fuller. "We're not worried about the money. We're concerned about helping our people and making sure they have what they need to make it if no more than another week."

Mrs. Stokes admits she never saw the surprise coming.

"I thought a gift card or something like that," said Mrs. Stokes. "Not $50.00."

Mrs. Stokes says the surprise could not have come at a better time. She says gas prices are outrageous.

"There is no way we'll be able to survive," said Mrs. Stokes about senior citizens on fixed incomes. "The only thing we will be able to do is buy gas."

"Somebody will say $50 is not much," noted Pastor Fuller. "More than anything else it lets our seniors know we want to share with you because you shared with us."

"It is a blessing," cried Mrs. Stokes.

Pastor Fuller says he also plans to take the youth to see the upcoming Kung-Fu Panda 2.