About Drive-In Ministries

SINCE 1953

Drive-In Ministries has heard the cry from the lost segment of our society who do not come into our churches. We have outfitted special Mobile Units that travel throughout the WORLD to assist churches in reaching those within their reach with the message of hope and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

OUR MANDATE

is clear from Scripture. In Luke 14.23, Jesus said, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." In Acts 1:8, He said, "...you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth". Drive-In is currently ministering with churches in the inner-city, suburbs and rural American as well as in five foreign countries.

OUR METHOD

of ministry is to use an attractive, specially designed and self contained Mobile Unit, a huge projection screen and a portable platform. Working as an outreach arm of the local church, the ministry team (made up of people from the church) may present a live program and an evangelistic film that portrays the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ

OUR SUCCESS

of this concept is realized through the work of the Holy Spirit, the power of prayer and the ability to set up easily at the end of a street, housing project, shopping center parking lot, park or any number of other locations. It is a versatile ministry tool that mobilizes local church member to evangelize people right where they live without trying to get them to the church to hear the gospel, and relies on the local church to follow up in encouraging and discipling the new believers. We are a mission agency dedicated to work with churches to go into the "highways and hedges" to proclaim to people of all ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds and languages, the wonderful truth that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. If you would like for Drive-In to assist you with mobile evangelistic programs, please contact us.

OUR FOUNDER

Terry Lytle was saved as a young boy in Jackson, Michigan.  He later attended Moody Bible Institute where he also met and later married Olive Van der linden.

Movie Ministries began in 1948 when Terry and Olive joined with the Ray Brubaker Organization known as “Cathedral Caravan”.  Then while pastoring the West Rome Baptist Church in Manitou beach, MI, Terry worked with Cathedral Caravan again, this time at Devil’s Lake, MI.  Here he began to envision concepts of how to reach the people the churches were not reaching.

In 1950, Drive-In Ministries was founded as Terry procured permission to use a corn field in the Devil’s Lake area to set up a platform for an outdoor Drive-In service.  Soon evangelistic films were added to the service and greater attendance followed.  Later a huge projection screen was built along with a glass enclosed platform.  (The Devil’s Lake Drive-In closed the summer of 2008 after 57 years of operation).

The ministry vision expanded to St. Petersburg, FL in 1958 where the outdoor Drive-In could operate year-around.  Within a few years a complete Drive-In was built on U.S. Hwy. 19 and proved to be an excellent tool of evangelism.

In 1973, Terry’s vision turned “mobile” as he developed the “Magnificent Movie Machine,” a completely self-contained 55’ tractor/trailer rig, with screen sections that folded and stored on the roof and living quarters on the inside.

In 1974, his vision turned to the boating vacationers when a business man offered his 50’ yacht to be used as a floating Drive-In on Lake Michigan.  Hence the “Showboat” was born.

Next came the “Grand Van,” a 42’ retired U.S. Postal bus, converted into another mobile film unit.  This unit not only traveled the U.S. but also Mexico.  Down-sizing and multiplying was the next vision Terry followed.  A fleet of used aluminum 27’ 5th-wheel trucks/trailers originally made for Frito-Lay, became a fleet of Drive-In mobile units that spread into 27 states, Mexico, and eventually two were even shipped to Ukraine.  

Now the fleet of mobile units has grown to include several step vans and even a couple of regular passenger vans equipped with electric screens and all equipment.

Terry, the founder and visionary of Drive-In Ministries, for 57 years until his death in April of 2008. Olive stood by his side faithfully and was called home to be with the Lord in June of 2008. The ministry is growing and continues to expand the vision he started.