Anchorage Baptist Temple Pastor Ron Hoffman greeted people arriving for one of three Easter Sunday drive-in church services that were held in the parking lot on Sunday, April 12, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Anchorage Baptist Temple Pastor Ron Hoffman greeted people arriving for one of three Easter Sunday drive-in church services that were held in the parking lot Sunday April, 12, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The congregants practiced social distancing by staying in their own vehicles with the windows up. They viewed a prerecorded service on a 26-foot screen and listened by tuning in on FM radio.
Pastor Ron Hoffman said, “Easter is about the Resurrection. We’re here to celebrate our risen Lord. It’s the most important thing we believe as Christians. For us, this is a celebration of the life to come, not just this life that we breathe.”
Pastor Hoffman hopes to hold future Sunday services in the parking lot and has offered the technology to other churches so they can as well. “We as a church community can come together on this.”
Tony Smith directs traffic during one of three drive-in church services at Anchorage Baptist Temple on Easter Sunday during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Anchorage Baptist Temple Pastor Ron Hoffman and his wife Crystal greeted people arriving to one of three drive-in church services held in the parking lot on Easter Sunday during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Anchorage Baptist Temple held three Easter Sunday services in their parking lot on Sunday during the COVID-19 pandemic. The congregation keep good social distancing by staying in their own vehicles with the windows up and viewed a prerecorded service on a 26-foot screen and were able to listen by tuning in their FM radio. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Michael Alvarez, 7, tries to catch snowflakes during a drive-in church service at Anchorage Baptist Temple on Sunday, April 12, 2020. His sisters Johnnie Alvarez, 9 and Athena Alvarez, 4, are in the backseat. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Anchorage Baptist Temple Pastor Ron Hoffman gave his Easter Sunday sermon via a prerecorded service on Sunday during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Scott Levesque waves as people arriving for a drive-in church service at Anchorage Baptist Temple on Easter Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)