I was at Snellville City Hall one day last spring when I looked across the street and saw a crowd outside Snellville United Methodist. Cars were beeping as they passed, so I went to see what was going on.  It was a team of people offering Drive-Thru Prayer.  I enjoyed it so much I wrote a story about it.

Leading the crew that day was Ann Wright, dressed in a pink plastic hard hat and doting on her adorable dog Mitzi between visitors.  Ann told me about her passion for prayer and about some upcoming events at the church.  She also prayed for me.  I was just starting out with the Sun, which was known then as Snellville Local News.  I asked for prayer about that.  She prayed kind, insightful words, but one phrase stuck with me: "If you can't make it a blessing, don't make it news."

That was difficult then, when the site contained more hard news, but now as a community site, I want the Snellville Sun to live up to Ann's prayer.  I hope we can honor all residents of Snellville, no matter their background or beliefs, and find what is fascinating about each one.  That's what the Somebodies feature is all about, so it seems fitting to introduce you to Ann.

You can submit prayer requests to the team at Snellville United Methodist through their prayer page.


Snellville Somebodies is a regular feature designed to introduce you to every person in Snellville, because around here, everybody's somebody.  

They’re serious.  The prayer team from Snellville United Methodist Church is balancing this day of pranks with some time for prayer.  Just drive up to the front door this afternoon between 4:30 and 6pm, and a team member will pray for your needs.  Even if you don’t know what to say.

Project leader Ann Wright knows, “Sometimes people don’t have the words because they’re so close to a situation.  They need somebody to share their burdens, to stand in the gap for them.  We’ve all needed that at one time or another.  So maybe today we can be the tongue for them.”

Wright’s team already had one session this morning, and prayed with several people.  Common themes were health and financial needs, but they heard the entire spectrum of human need.

“I haven’t always been a praying person,” Wright says, but learned its importance early on.  “I began going to a Bible study when I was 20,” she says, “a small group of about 7 or 8, and these people were prayer warriors.  They knew how to pray.  I felt it and I knew.”

Now, Wright knows it’s the one act of service she can always do.  “I don’t have a lot of money or possessions to offer, but I can always pray.”

Drive-Thru prayer was a regular ministry at Snellville UMC long ago, but the minister who started it got a church appointment in Marietta and the unusual outreach has been dormant until today.

On May 1st, the National Day of prayer, the prayer team will welcome the community for prayer again, this time in the chapel of Snellville UMC.  The chapel is being restored to its 1940’s beauty and will be open May first for prayer.

The prayer drive-thru is open today between 4:30 and 6 pm.  Snellville UMC is near the intersection of 124 on Highway 78 at 2428 Main Street East, Snellville 30078.