About - Drive-In Ministries

“Drive-In Ministries exists as a Christian missionary organization for the purpose of worldwide evangelism assisting local churches and other Christian institutions by developing and providing innovative tools, programs, personnel, and ministry partnerships.”

Drive-In Ministries has heard the cry from the lost segment of our society who does not come into our churches. We have outfitted special Mobile Units that travel “Around the Corner…Around the World” assisting churches, church planters, and other Christian institutions in reaching those within their reach with the message of hope and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

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 cornfield 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).
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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.
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In 1974, his vision turned to the boating vacationers when a businessman offered his 50’ yacht to be used as a floating Drive-In on Lake Michigan. Hence the “Showboat” was born.
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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. Downsizing 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.
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Now the fleet of mobile units has grown to include several step vans and a number of regular passenger vans equipped with electric screens and all equipment.
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Terry was 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 May of 2008.

The ministry is growing and continues to expand the vision that was started.

In 2008, after the death of Founder/President Terry Lytle, the ministry went through a major transition. The Board of Directors voted to install Vice-President Mike Jones as the new president. Since Mike and his family were well established in Prattville Alabama, and where he had the DIM Mobile Unit maintenance and fabrication shop, the Board agreed to move the ministry to Alabama and sell the Florida Drive-In property. Later that same year, after the death of Olive Lytle, it was also decided to close the Michigan summer Drive-In and return that property back to the owner.

Over the next few months, Drive-In physically moved to Alabama, while continuing to operate the ministry. The Drive-In shop in Alabama became the temporary home office. Changing states also required registering with the federal government as a new organization in the state of Alabama, with a new Charter, Articles of Incorporation, and EIN number as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Over the next several years, the ministry became well established in Prattville, Alabama adding new Board members, missionaries, international partners, and expanding the U.S. Mobile ministry. In 2010 Drive-In purchased 13 ½ acres of property on Old Ridge Road East in Prattville beside Interstate 65 South, with plans to build a ministry park, headquarters/ministry event center, and more. The property has been in development and use since 2011 with the park providing covered picnic pavilions with restrooms, a regulation soccer field, ½ mile walking track, open play areas, outdoor movie site (movies on Fridays, March through October), and most recently, a 9-hole disc golf course. The park draws many people from the community, tri-county area, and a good number of interstate travelers looking for a nice, clean picnic park near the interstate.

Plans and solicitations for funding are in place as we are now ready to move forward on the 20,000 sq. ft. headquarters/event center as the Lord provides. It will house the ministry offices, meeting rooms, gymnasium/conference center, restrooms, commercial kitchen, etc., with a billboard-sized LED screen for outdoor evangelistic movies on the topside of the building.

During these same years the Lord has continued to expand the ministry Internationally. Drive-In currently has missionaries and/or international partners in eight other countries including Mexico, Guatemala (Central America), Colombia (South America), Haiti (Caribbean), Romania (2 ministries), Nigeria (West Africa, 3 ministries), Cameroon, (West Africa), and India (1 ministry 3 Mobile Units / different locations). Through all the ministries combined, tens of thousands of people are being reached with the Gospel through mobile movie evangelism each year with thousands accepting Christ as their Savior.

About Drive-In

Our Mission

Since 1950

Our Founder

Our Transition