Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/75

Contributor - Bill Vandenberg

Title - New Hope Community Drive-In Church

Topic - Outreach

Anew and different way to worship!

RATHER UNCONVENTIONAL!

THAT'S NOT FOR ME!

WELL, NOW, I MIGHT LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT! YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE SPONSORING CONGREGATION ARE ATTRACTED BY IT! YES BUT THEN IT BREAKS UP FAMILY WORSHIP.

HOW CAN YOU CALL A "THING" LIKE THAT CHURCH???

These are just a few of mildly translated reactions of people in and around the Grace Reformed Church of Whalley, Surrey, B.C.

What is a Drive-In Church? Inspired by a well-established and successful church under Dr. Robert Schuller, the Garden Grove Community Church in Garden Grove California, figured, hoped and prayed that such an innovative way of worship may work in B.C. The first Service was held on the first Sunday of March, 1973.

The meager beginning showed me standing at first on the tar-paper roof of the projection building in one of the local drive-in theatres. For 8 weeks in a row the Lord answered our prayers for dry weather, sometimes (as far as our little faith is concerned) only at the last minute, like 1 minute before the service would start, and the rain returning shortly after the benediction.

And now that I am writing this that we have it appears to me nearly forgotten such rather important details by now! In the first year it was only twice that I called my young son John to come and hold the 500 umbrella above me so I could hold my Bible and have one hand free. At that time we still did some "congregational' singing and the special soloist Mrs. Franssen and myself would stand there with a headphone on to hear the same music (pre-recorded organ music) and lead the singing.

Much of that has changed by now. We work from a lovely trailer especially built by devoted volunteers with much effort and expenses freely given. That trailer measures 8 by 16 feet and one side opens up completely to expand both roof and floor by another 4 feet. We have a fine piano and a most adequate sound system.

With all the modern gadgets you can think off. Last year we made tremendous efforts to attract singing and instrumental groups to provide the music in our somewhat free type of worship service, and this year we are trying to emphasize the local talent of our congregation at Grace Reformed Church.

Then I should tell you, that people who attend, remain in their cars for the entire service and are contacted on arrival by one of the ushers who hands them a bulletin and an offering envelope and greets them, and later during the service when the offering "baskets" are extended to them by the s same ushers, they will have experienced all the human and personal contact that some feel is all they need, and several cars leave immediately at the end of the service. Many others stay behind to share in some fellowship over coffee and freshie for the youngsters.

The purpose of it all is to be an evangelistic arm of the church.

Many unchurched people feel "trapped" in the "houses of worship" where most Christians meet regularly, and in this drive-in setting there is a freedom from this trapped feeling. Of course, that kind of feeling can be overcome, and is not necessarily the church's fault, nevertheless it is there and therefore we feel that we can help overcome it.

Is this ministry effective? So far we have very little to boast about: One convert! But for that person, the drive-in means new life and new hope. There are several families that do come back regularly or with some degree of regularity, but even after 2 years it is still too early to evaluate the whole venture.

When you have read thus far, you might feel that everything is smooth and lovely, but I have to admit that it is also a sore-spot for some in the congregation of Grace Church. WHY? I do not quite know, and I have never heard any substantial reasons, some people just do not like the idea, probably because it is unusual -and also because many a person has a fixed idea about how to worship. But then are we not forgetting what our forefathers did, granted under pressure and persecution, yet they met for "hagepreken" (hedge preaching, secret meetings of worship deep in the bush, hidden from immediate onlookers) as well as the ways in which the early church met?

As a pastor I had hoped for 2 things to happen: First that we may be able to bring people to a saving knowledge in Jesus Christ our Lord, and secondly that it may bring the people of Grace Reformed Church to the point of being able to be an evangelizing, outgoing love-sharing group of representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ.

At God's own pace these things are taking place! Thanks be to God!

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