by Richard James
It’s just over five years since the world’s first drive-thru church (DTC) was born at St David’s, Forestville. Making the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald, a lead story for Channel Nine News, and numerous radio stations, what has become of this oddity now?
In the week before Easter School holidays, volunteers with signs, smiles and waves lined Warringah Road for their Easter DTC. The result? As always the volunteers, up to 40 people over three mornings, reported a wonderful reception by the drivers.
“Most smile or toot their horn, they wave back and flash their lights,” Ros Thompson said. “This is my first DTC and it is fantastic, everyone is so friendly. I am having a blast!”
Placement of DTC before Christmas and Easter has proved very strategic. Not only does it give the church a context for handing out tapes and CDs, but the initiative has also resulted in a higher percentage of visitors at Easter and Christmas. Many visitors, when asked why they came to St David’s, sight the impact of the DTC. As advertising for the church it is priceless.
Over the years a number of other churches have tried their hand. St Paul’s, Chatswood, has taken up the idea and mastered it. At the top of Fuller’s Road outside their church, peak hour traffic comes to a stand still for minutes at a time. Their volunteers walk between the cars giving out tapes and Easter eggs or Christmas cake.
When asked how many tapes they gave away, rector, the Rev Ray Robinson estimated the highest amount was around 1400.
“The response is always very positive,” comments Mr Robinson, “and we always seem to get a positive write up in the local newspaper.”
Will DTC continue at St David’s? Absolutely. Consider that as literally thousands of cars drive by, they see Christians happy and friendly, with signs stating their love of Jesus. The impact is immeasurable. As Alan Campbell, one of the volunteers on the road, said, “I doubt a single car would go by without the occupants discussing what they see – it is just that impressive.”
Recently, a couple of trends have developed. First, traffic has become both more congested and faster – especially with recent changes to traffic conditions – which makes pulling up into the church drive a somewhat frightening task for most. Those who do come in really have to plan to well before they arrive. (A group of intercessors in the church not only pray for the drivers, but also for God’s protection from accidents – to this day there have been no incidents, thank God!)
Secondly, CDs now well outstrip tapes in popularity.
Overall a ‘crazy’ idea has been greatly used by God. Not just by the number of tapes given away but by the number of people who see the outreach and are moved. It would be fair to say that DTC is held in high regard by those in the broader community – an encouraging endorsement for a local church, especially as St David’s tries new ways to reach the untouched.
