WS Chronicle

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Easter Sunday looked different for most congregations across the country. While many churches made their service viewable on social media, Union Baptist held a drive-in worship service that drew a crowd of more than 200 over the weekend. 

The Drive-In Resurrection Service was originally scheduled to be held on Easter Sunday in the parking lot of the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, but was held a day earlier at the Inmar parking lot, due to the threat of rain. The last minute changes didn’t seem to affect turnout much as more than 200 cars filed into the parking lot, located at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Research Parkway, for the service. 

During the service, Bishop Sir Walter Mack and others delivered their messages from the top of a small flight of stairs, while parishioners watched from the comfort and safety of their cars and listened on their radios. There were also two large screens set up in the parking lot. Other speakers during the service were Pastor Tembila Covington, president of the Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, and Rev. Giorgio Hyatt, senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. 

To ensure compliance with social distancing orders, churchgoers were directed to stay in their cars and keep their windows rolled up at all times. Attendees were also encouraged to take selfies in their cars and share on social media.

Throughout the morning, sounds of car horns echoed throughout Innovation Quarter as parishioners showed their support for the messages. Some people even decorated their cars to show their support. 

While listening to the messages on Saturday morning, Jasmine Cunningham said she wasn’t a member of Union, but decided to attend when she heard about the drive-in service. “I think this was a wonderful idea,” Cunningham said.