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BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH TO HOLD A DRIVE-IN WORSHIP SERVICE THIS SUNDAY

Bible Baptist Church will hold a “drive-in” church service on Sunday, May 3, at 11 a.m. The public is welcome and invited to attend. Attendees will remain in their vehicles as Pastor Preston Hoiseth will deliver the service.  

Hoiseth said that as the COVID-19 outbreak unfolded, Bible Baptist, along with most others, decided to suspend our regular services for an online platform, but that he has been looking into ways to assemble safely. “We have been looking into different ways, how can we be a help, and encouragement because this crisis is not just medical or economic; it’s also emotional and spiritual,” said Hoiseth. “The fear and isolation are adding up in people’s lives, creating some hardship.  So, our question was how we can assemble together and help encourage people to foster that togetherness and at the same time keep everybody safe. I’ve been in contact with other pastors around the country, and one creative way that has worked really in a lot of different places is drive-in church service. Everybody comes to a parking lot; they stay in their vehicle and you can either tune into a low power radio signal or just roll down the windows. We’re going to have an outdoor PA system hooked up.”

Hoiseth said Polk County Sheriff Jim Tadman was supportive of the service, as church services are exempt from the stay at home order as long as they are responsible about the size of gatherings, social distancing, and being safe. “The building is going to be closed,” said Hoiseth. “We’ll probably have the restrooms available if somebody needs something like that. Otherwise, the building is going to be closed, everybody is going to stay in their vehicle and listen from there. I did reach out to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.  I wanted to make sure we were on the right track and doing things safely.  Sheriff Tadman was very supportive of this whole idea and thought it was a wonderful idea. He sent us some guidelines to help and give us some thoughts.  It actually says in the guidelines that church services are exempt from the stay at home order.  So, if somebody is thinking, well we’re just supposed to stay home.  Well, churches are kind of an essential service during this time, but we’re strongly recommended, of course, to be responsible, safe, practice good social distancing.  And they’re recommending you don’t have a gathering of more than 10 people, and that’s why we’re doing it all outside and keeping people in their vehicles. You’re kind of in your own bubble inside your car, so it’s very safe.  The risk is very, very minimal, and I think it’s going to be an incredible morale boost for people to see one another and draw some strength from the word of God.”

The service will be open to the public, but Bible Baptist will provide the service online over Facebook as well for those that are not comfortable being out said, Hoiseth. “We are inviting anyone who wants to come out,” said Hoiseth. “As I said, it’s going to be very safe. We’re going to have plenty of space for everybody. But, of course, not everybody is ready for that yet. So, if anybody feels uncomfortable or you live a little way out and don’t want to come that far, we’re going to try to continue with the livestream. We’ve been doing that on Facebook every Sunday morning since this began, and that’s been working out pretty well for us. This is going to be a little different because it will be outdoors, but hopefully, technology and weather will all cooperate, and we can have that livestream at 11 a.m.”

Hoiseth also encouraged people to find hope, which will be the theme of his sermon on Sunday. “For those who are at home, stay encouraged, don’t lose hope,” said Hoiseth. “The Bible says to be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid for the Lord thy God is with thee.  And this Sunday, the title of the message is finding hope. That’s my desire for all of us.  That even in the middle of these troubled times, we find hope in God and draw strength from his word.”

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