Sharing Jesus, discipleship and the Second International Drive Thru Prayer Conference

April 7-9 Trinity Southern Baptist Church partnered with the Arizona Mission Network to host the Second Annual International Drive Thru Prayer Conference in Casa Grande. The roughly 150 registered attendees represented more than 30 associations, churches and ministries.

The conference was packed with amazing speakers as they shared with attendees this ministry that has a global vision to expand to all 24 time zones around the world. The keynote speakers were David Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists, and John Avant, founder of Passion Promise Ministries.

The three-day event kicked off with a welcome to Casa Grande by Mayor Lisa Fitzgibbons and spiritual encouragement from City Councilman and retired Arizona Cardinals professional football player Anthony Edwards, who pastors a local church that is part of the Drive Through Prayer (DTP) Family. Incredible meals and helpful sessions were prepared by the dedicated team of volunteers from a variety of churches.

John Avant inspired attendees with a call to consistently and faithfully share the gospel by specifically seeking opportunities to pray for people whenever and wherever we meet them. His humorous and serious anecdotes, examples, experiences and stories challenged those assembled to go deeper in their personal prayer life for the glory of our holy God.

With more than years of ministry experience, Avant’s call to a life of prayer and witnessing was impactful and meaningful as he unpacked the life of a true disciple of Christ in his sessions titled, “The ones God uses to change the world,” Sharing Jesus in Satan’s shadow,” “How to carry heavy loads well,” and “#Blessed.”

David Johnson

David Johnson brought important and timely insight with his message titled, “When God says no.” His dedication to the Lord arising from his personal experience in missional living was a challenging and inspiring example of fervent and passionate prayer in the life of a believer even in the face of daunting setbacks, uncertainty and unspeakable pain.

We are called to be a faithful people who continue to trust God even when He does not answer the way we would prefer, Johnson said. When God says no, it may be for reasons that we will never understand on this side of eternity, he noted. It may be because He is equipping and shaping us to better serve Him, and it could be that He is driving us to depend on His power and not our own.

The Lord may also be helping us to learn contentment in any circumstance so that we can be more effective for the cause of Christ.

At the conclusion of the conference, attendees were given the opportunity to share their feedback and thoughts. Attendees were greatly encouraged by the unity among Casa Grande churches, where five local congregations offer DTP, as well as the authenticity of the teaching and testimonies. Attendees returned home with a renewed sense of urgency to reach the unchurched, under-churched and never-churched with the gospel of Jesus Christ through prayer.

Registration for DTP 2026 (April 13-15) is open. Seating is limited to 200 registrants. Keynote speakers will be Richard Blackaby, president of Blackaby Ministries International, and Rick Fisher, co-author with Richard Blackaby of Developing a Powerful Praying Church.

Next Steps

• Pray for the Lord to continue to expand this ministry across America and around the world.
• Watch Session Eight of DTP 2024, which presents the vision for Drive Thru Prayer: youtube.com/live/c0yZjdal1e8
• Visit drivethruprayer.com to register for the 2026 International Drive Thru Prayer Conference April 13-15. Seating capacity is 200.
• Check out the latest DTP community video at drivethruprayer.com.
• Contact Pastor Phil to see how your church can get involved: info@drivethruprayer.com.

Philip W. Calvert is senior pastor of Trinity Southern Baptist Church in Casa Grande and upon whom the Lord put the vision for a global Drive Thru Prayer ministry.