Several area pastors get together periodically during the year to fellowship. A few weeks ago they discussed creating a community Easter service with social distancing, because of the pandemic.
The outcome: Easter Drive-in Experience on Sunday, April 12 at 10 a.m. at the west parking lot of the old Mercy Hospital building.
“It’s a family event open to anyone,” Clayton Whitson, communication pastor at Faith Church said.
“You don’t have to be members of these churches,” Pastor Virgil Peck, of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene said.
The churches involved in the planning are Community Christian Church, Faith Church, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, and Parkway Church of God.
With the permission of local and county officials, these four churches will host an Easter celebration while still adhering to social distancing requirements.
Attendees can drive their families to the Community Health Center also known as the old Mercy Hospital entrance off Highway 69. Please don’t come off of the Horton Street side, because of logistics, Peck said. The parking lots of the Professional Building to the north of the CHC will also be utilized for attendees cars.
Speakers will be set up on a semi-trailer at the convergence of the three parking lots, Peck said.
Parking attendants will direct each car to a parking space.
Everyone will remain in their vehicle and can access the broadcast audio on local radio channel 103.9 FM, KOMB Radio.
The service will feature live music, communion, and a collaborative message from all four pastors: Peck from the Nazarene Church, Eric Goings from Parkway Church of God, Dusty Drake from Community Christian, and Matthew Hunt from Faith Church.
Parking lots open at 9:30 a.m.
“We are encouraging people to come early, because the logistics,” Peck said.
If people are unable to attend, they can tune into the radio at 103.9.
“We are also trying to work out a live video stream of the event,” Peck said.
“We said, ‘If God is in it, it will happen and it seems to be coming together,” Peck said.
They are partnering together for this event because:
“Jesus’ resurrection changes everything,” Whitson said.