The Refinery Church is giving away free car washes at four locations in Elkins and Buckhannon this week to help spread the word of God as well to make connections and give back to the community.

“We’re not accepting any donations,” Gayton Marks, a representative for City Reach, who partnered with Refinery for a week of events, told The Inter-Mountain Thursday. “And the purpose of that is we just want to share a free gift with the community, and we want to share God’s love with the community, and we want to demonstrate that God’s love for us is a free gift that we can’t pay for.”

Both adults and kids work together to thoroughly wash the vehicles and promote the car wash, holding up handmade signs that say “Free Car Wash” and “Honk If You Love Jesus.”

Marks said about 80 adult and child members of the Refinery Church, as well some members of other local churches, are working at the four car wash sites in Elkins and Buckhannon. 

Free car washes are being offered by the Refinery Church at four sites in Elkins and Buckhannon this week.

The Elkins locations are at the First Baptist Church parking lot on Randolph Avenue, the Go Mart parking lot on the Beverly Pike, and the Taco Bell parking lot on Harrison Avenue.

When asked why the church members decided to do a car wash, participant Lisa Gee told The Inter-Mountain that they based the decision on the actions of Jesus.

“Jesus washed people’s feet to show service, leadership and love, and so we wash cars,” Gee said. “We try to demonstrate Christ’s love by washing cars.”

According to its website, The Refinery Church is both a local and online ministry “whose foundation is the Bible, and whose heartbeat is sharing Jesus with those who feel cast down, unworthy, and in need of a Savior.” 

The website states the church focuses on accountability, community and discipleship, and that its mission is, “To teach God’s Word and share God’s love with the people of Randolph County, throughout the great state of West Virginia, and into other rural Appalachian communities, via discipleship, outreach and evangelism.”

The Refinery Church meets every Sunday morning at 110 Third St. at the Seneca Mall, where participants have breakfast and coffee at 10 a.m. and begin services at 10:45 a.m.