Posted by Doug Stanglin at 01:53 PM/ET, May 18, 2009

Last updated June 21, 2009

USA Today

A North Texas pastor still passes the collection plate at Cross Timbers Community Church, but now he tells struggling members of his congregation to take what they need, KDAF-TV reports.

Toby Slough, pastor of the non-denominational church in Argyle, Texas, says the church has given away half a million dollars in the past two months. Some has gone to single moms and widows in trouble, some to a local mission, some to people behind on their utility bills.

Slough says it all started early this year when he told his congregation to take money from the plate if they needed it, even though donations were down. That day, he tells the Dallas-Fort Worth TV stations, the church took in the largest offering ever.

Then, Slough says, he gave a ride to a jobless man who was down to his last bus pass. That's when he decided to turn the collection plate into a giving plate.

"In these economic times, we can't be so into church business that we forget what our business is, and that is to help people," Slough says.

LINK TO VIDEO OF PASTOR AND CHURCH PROJECTS:

http://www.the33tv.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3769743

http://www.the33tv.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3769070