Hope Baptist Church holding weekly 'Drive-In Church' in Spokane County

AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Hope Baptist Church in Airway Heights is holding a weekly Sunday church service, drive-in movie style.

With churches not counted as essential under Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order, indoor religious services have not been able to take place since March. Hope Baptist Church pastor Jon Schrock decided to pay homage to drive-in theaters and have an outdoor service where people stay in their cars.

“We wanted to worship the Lord in an old-fashioned way, if you will, bringing back the memories of the old drive-in theaters,” Schrock said.

So, Schrock found a large field he could use off of Round Hollow Lane just north of Airway Heights in Spokane County.

“We are doing it in a farmer’s field so we can do it with the appropriate social distancing,” Schrock said. “We have a large area so we can pull cars in and keep safe … We have a FM transmitter, so people don’t even have to roll down their windows.”

Schrock first had a drive-in service on Easter Sunday. He says 57 people attended that service. Last week, that number increased to more than 250.

“People want to join us to worship the Lord and do it in a safe way,” Schrock said.

While Schrock said he has had no contact with Spokane County or the health district, he says he has followed all guidelines for social distancing. He says he even has some people working as “ushers.” He said these people’s only job is to make sure everyone obeys the rules and stays inside their cars.

“People have been very compliant,” Schrock said. “Sometimes they see someone they know, and they get excited (and want to go see them). But our ushers are there to say, ‘Hey, don’t forget to stay in your car.’ So, it has been a very seamless operation.”

Schrock said the drive-in service has allowed the church to return to helping people.

“The first Sunday we did it, we gave to the foodbank here in Airway Heights,” Schrock said. “We were able to collect over $300 to give to them. Last week we took up an offering to help individuals … This week we are doing a diaper drive.”

Schrock says people have been coming from all over eastern Washington to attend the service. Airway Height’s position on State Route 2 makes it easy to access from Lincoln County.

“We have provided a place for people to worship the Lord and practice our religion,” Schrock said. “We have people from Rearden come, we have people from Davenport. We also have some from Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake.”

Hope Baptist Church’s drive-in church service is Sundays at 3:30 p.m. at 14504 W. Brown Hollow Lane.

Jeremy Burnham can be contacted at [email protected].