Jose R. Alarcón – Aurora, Colorado … The Aurora First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Aurora, Colorado, was visited by around 25 cars that attended their latest prayer drive thru event, May 18. The church had resumed this monthly event on April 13 after a winter recess.

People with all kinds of spiritual needs were served at prayer stations. Many of the attendees had specific prayer requests for healing and for peace of mind. Along with the prayers, they received a gift bag containing water, snacks, and glow tracts, and were invited to eat some food at the food station.

Church members expressed their enjoyment as they engaged the people that came to the monthly event. In his book E. M. Bounds on Prayer, Bounds wrote, “The value of prayer does not lie in the number of prayers or the length of prayers; rather, its value is found in the great truth that we are privileged, by our relationship to God, to unburden our desires and to make our requests known to Him, and that he will relieve by granting our petitions.”

The attendees mostly came by car, but some also walked in. All were in need of some kind of embracement. Prayer is a moment of embracement with God as found in James 5:15-16 (NIV): And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Joyce Augustinis, Aurora First church secretary and communications director, who volunteered at the event, commented, “Although I was not with any of the prayer teams, but out on the sidewalk holding a sign that pointed people to stop for prayer, I was praying that God would bring them in for a moment with him or, if not, to remind them that God is there for us. People need the Lord.”

The Apostle Paul added in Ephesians 6:18 (NIV), And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The Aurora First Pathfinders club members worked hard promoting the event by holding cardboard banners inviting people in. Many passersby honked and greeted them.

“Prayer is the Christian’s lifeline to God, and, with it, lives are changed for eternity,” commented Jose Alarcón, lead pastor at Auroura First Church. “Aurora First will continue to engage the surrounding community in prayer, at least once a month.”

“Many community attendees said that they would be visiting the church, and some did the next morning attending the Food Bank. Prayer Drive-thru connects community people with God and God’s people with the community,” he continued.

The program has shown to be an effective missionary and promotional tool for the church with a “no strings attached” approach. The church will continue to explore and devote its efforts to connect with the surrounding community to supply their needs.

One of the attendees commented, “I know that you guys celebrate church on Saturday’s. What is your schedule of services?” Alarcón connected with her, and she mentioned that she will be here next Sabbath. “Even if she doesn’t come, at least she is aware of our presence in the community and knew when we met,” remarked Alarcón.

These events are creating and building a witnessing awareness among the church members. This is essential when trying to reach the surrounding areas while also creating an awareness among the community about who the church is and what they stand for as a church.

Bounds also wrote, “The possibilities of prayer are found in its alliance with the purposes of God, for God’s purposes and man’s praying are the combination of all potent and omnipotent forces.”

The church will host the event again on June 15, July 13, August 17, and September 14.

—Jose R. Alarcón is the lead pastor at the Aurora First Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos by Dina Alarcón.