Milton Freewater Pastor Participates in Drive-In Easter Service

Four community pastors who know Pastor Lloyd well were to be part of the drama this year, titled, “Sermon on the Mount.” This dramatic event was to be held at the Milton Adventist Church since it has the largest venue. Owen Frost, pastor of Stateline Community Church, Steve Lyons, pastor of the First Christian Church, Pastor Tillie MakePeace with the United Methodist Church and Pastor Lloyd were all planning this event together.

Enter the world pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19) and plans had to change. Pastor Lloyd called up Pastor Steve and said, “We can’t do this, can we still do something?”

Pastor Steve got on the phone with local authorities and permission was granted by both state and local authorities to hold a COVID-19 compliant Easter Service at the Milton Drive-In Theater on Highway 11. The event was truly a community event.

Before the event a stage was built by Tim Sanchez, the new pastor of Milton’s First Baptist congregation. The stage, on top of the Snack Shack, was first class with good handrails and a cross. It also doubled as a wedding stage as Pastor Lloyd officiated for the wedding service of his office manager, Marja McChesney, who married Gene Bruns.

Two services were held on Easter Sunday, the first at 9:30 a.m. the second at 11 a.m. Altogether about 450 cars were there, representing 1,000 people.

Pastor Steve welcomed all. Pastor Tillie spoke on why Jesus came to die on the cross; there was a powerful poem about the nails that held Jesus on the cross by Pastor Tim. Pastor Lloyd shared why we uplift the cross. Then Pastor Owen Frost ended with the resurrection.

Behind the scenes, Pastor Shane Nelson of Valley Christian Center ran the audio and a live Facebook feed. Attendees listened through their car radios and were invited to say amen by honking their horns. Near the back, a large emergency vehicle with an EMT team joined in the worship and honked their very distinctive sound. 

The only restrooms were located in the Snack Shack and were for emergencies. The owner, Mike Speiss, donned a mask and spray bottle with disinfectant and kept the bathrooms sterilized between each use. He was excited about the service and offered the drive-in at no charge.

Pastor Lloyd Perrin was touched by the service and the fact that the people were so in need of community contact. “We have a wonderful message that brings us back to the Bible.” He said, “What I loved about this service was that these four pastors who did the speaking were implicit in their call for all to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and to follow His leading in their lives.”

Pastor Owen Frost, who ended the service, said, “We have been called to shelter in place. But the best place to shelter is under the wings of God.”