New Life Alliance Church Offers Drive-In Sunday Worship Services

Churches in the Cove are being creative in finding ways to meet as believers in Christ while remaining safe by distancing themselves.

New Life Alliance Church in East Freedom has been having drive-in services for the last five-plus weeks, according to Shiela Stombaugh, a parishioner for about 17 years.

The first service was on Palm Sunday. This service was a drive-thru service where attendees could drive in and request prayers or obtain a blessing. The last four weeks have been working well. Between 50 and 65 vehicles came for the service. Folks stayed in their vehicles and turned their radio to 88.5 AM. Restrooms are available through a side door of the building.

Pastor Ed Jelliff has been leading this church for more than 16 years. His sermons focus on the here and now and how this relates to the word of God. Attendees respond when they love something Pastor has said by blowing their vehicle horns.

There is quite a story about how this church got started and ended up in this present-day building. The building, formerly the East Freedom Elementary School, is owned by Through Inc. and the church rents the space. Through Inc bought the building and it is used for counseling and a food bank, among others.

The church had used the Garver Memorial YMCA in Roaring Spring and the elementary school before it was sold.

Before the virus there were about 150 parishioners for this church. Until the virus subsides this method has been the next-best thing.