Beltsville Broncos Pathfinders Conduct Drive-in Church Service

Story by Anitha Thavamani / Photos by Renea Smallwood

Last Sabbath, about 30 cars lined the parking lot for a church service at the Ammendale campus of Potomac Conference's Beltsville (Md.) church. This was the first service on the church’s premises since the doors closed last March due to the pandemic.

Although Beltsville has a very active online church presence, the Teen Leaders in Training (TLT)—Pathfinders enrolled in a program designed to challenge and empower them with increased responsibilities—recognized there were some members who aren’t tech savvy and were in need of a physical worship experience.

Under the mentorship of Shari Loveday, Beltsville’s youth pastor, Dorothy Illangovan (pictured) took the initiative to coordinate the event, along with her friends Rebekah Pittman and Kenneth Guruswamy. Illangovan even went so far as to present the idea at a virtual elder’s and ministry board meeting, where the board members unanimously encouraged it.

On Sabbath, the Pathfinders set up a stage in the church’s parking lot. TLT Daryl Illangovan set up the audio system to be transmitted through the FM radio transmitters. The attendees, parked in their cars, tuned in to listen to the worship service through their car radios. Many Pathfinders volunteered to participate in the service to ensure a pleasant experience. TLTs Keven Guruswamy and Tigor Lettsome delivered a powerful sermon and were applauded by an exuberant honking of car horns.

Pathfinders and attendees agree that the worship service was spiritually uplifting and a great blessing to all. Pathfinder Tatiana Emeruwa, who helped to regulate the traffic, remarks, “I was excited to help and be a part of this event."