Cordova church offers ‘prayer drive-thru’

CORDOVA — A single sign can change a driver’s destination.

Eight years ago, Leawood East Baptist Church put that idea to work, planting volunteers with signs along a busy street corner to pray for anyone who pulled in. Today, that prayer drive-thru stands as one of the church’s most fruitful ministries.

The concept is simple, said Julia Binford, administrative assistant at Leawood East Baptist Church. Some volunteers stand along the street holding signs that read “Drive Thru Prayer,” smiling and waving at passing cars. Others wait near the church entrance to greet drivers who pull in. When a car stops, volunteers pray with the driver, share information about the church and — if the driver is willing — collect contact information.

Then-pastor Kenny Bruce started the ministry in 2018. Volunteers originally held it once a month on Saturdays, but the church recently moved it to Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and has seen attendance grow.

“We have a better response with people coming home from work. Our church is on a pretty good, very busy street,” said Binford, who has held her role since 2014.

Between 10 and 15 volunteers typically show up to serve anywhere from five to 20 drivers a night. But Binford said every person who stops matters.

“It’s whatever God leads,” she said.

Carter Threkheld, the church’s worship and missions lead, often follows up with drivers after they leave.

“It’s not a one and done,” Binford said. “If they’re willing to leave a phone number or anything, Carter might text them some encouragement or something — say, ‘I prayed for you today.’ ”

Volunteers hear a wide range of prayer requests, most often for family members, the lost or the hurting. The stories they hear reflect loneliness, anxiety, discouragement and even violence in the community.

“They have some stories, and they are all different,” Binford said. “We even have some that come by that are already Christians and thank us for doing this. Of course, we pray with them too, but it just makes an impact on the neighborhood.

“They feel safe to come and share, and they don’t have to worry about us being prejudiced against them or anything like that.”

The ministry has made such an impression that the church has earned a nickname in the community: “that praying church.”

A few months ago, a Leawood East member struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger while waiting for a flight to Memphis. When she mentioned where she attended church and invited the woman to visit, the passenger — who lives in nearby Arlington — replied, “You go to that praying church in my neighborhood.”

“It does make you happy in your soul, I think, inside,” Binford said. “It also gives people freedom to know that they can come, because we have people come by on other days just needing prayer.”

Above all, Binford said, the ministry is simple enough for any church to replicate.

“The only cost for this ministry was the signs and banners we bought eight years ago, but it has ignited the fire to be soul winners in many of our members,” she said.

Volunteers don’t need formal training to take part, Binford said — just a willingness to show up.

“All you need is a desire to share Christ with your community. That’s all you need — that and a sign to stand out there and tell people they can come through and be prayed for,” she said.

For volunteers nervous about praying with strangers, Binford said the process puts people at ease quickly, since drivers typically offer their own prayer requests.

The ministry’s impact reaches beyond a single conversation or prayer, Binford said. Several drivers have accepted Christ as a result of the ministry, and some have joined the church. “We have seen many pray to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, and several have joined our church through this ministry,” she said.