Church, friends bring drive-in movie to Smiley

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Folks of all ages in the Smiley community last Friday were treated to a drive-in movie, something people rarely get to experience anymore.

With the help of several generous local sponsors, Jason Montoya, senior pastor with Nations Christian Fellowship Church, was able to bring the movie to friends and family who without a doubt have been looking forward to getting outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and spending time together as a community.

The event, which featured free popcorn, sodas and even insect repellent, had a large turnout (around 175 total), which seemed to get better and better as the day faded and the night came into view.

Montoya, who started Nations Christian Fellowship several years ago, said the church’s vision has always been to serve the community.

“Nations Christian Fellowship had begun to do drive-in type worship services when COVID-19 pandemic arose,” Montoya said. “We, together with the City of Smiley’s Marshal’s Office, thought how amazing it would be to do something creative where people in Smiley and the surrounding area could get out of their houses and enjoy something positive with their families during this time. We discussed the idea of a drive-in movie since the church had the equipment needed to do one. We then had a meeting with Mayor Mike Mills, City Secretary Rebecca Mejia and Chief for the Marshal’s Office Lawrence Robles to plan this community event.”

Montoya said that the big inflatable screen, which displayed the movie “The Call of the Wild,” belongs to Nations Christian Fellowship and was mounted to the trailer with the tie down rope provided with the screen.

“DRR Towing Company provided the truck and the trailer where we set the screen,” Montoya said.

Not only is Montoya senior pastor of the fellowship, he is also an investigator with the Gonzales Police Department. His wife Olga, who is also a pastor with the fellowship, holds an administrative position over the different ministries in the church. She is also a kindergarten teacher for Nixon-Smiley CISD. The Montoyas said the event couldn’t have been possible without businesses and organizations including DRR Towing, Heavenly Treats, Jake’s BBQ, Dimples BBQ, Leon Davis Water Well Service, Juan Diaz Trucking, the Smiley Public Library and Smiley Fire Department and the Smiley Marshal’s Office.

“We also wanted to give thanks to the churches who donated, like Nations Christian Fellowship, Efeso Baptist Church and St. Philip’s Catholic Church,” he said.

Montoya went on to express his gratitude to the Smiley 4H Club and Smiley Bantam Activity Group, as well as Adel Bermea, Lisa Douglas and Sylvia Dominguez Aleman.

“The Smiley 4H members and some of the youth from Nations Christian Fellowship were the ones who brought in the distributed the waters, soft drinks, pickles, popcorn and candy to our audience,” Montoya said. “Volunteers from Nations Christian Fellowship assisted with the preparation, set up and cleaning up after the event. The city marshal’s office assisted with traffic control and security to assist with safety of all the attendees. The Smiley Fire Department assisted with closing off the streets around the immediate area of the movie.

“We were so excited with the large turnout,” he said. “It blessed our hearts to see families, grandparents, husbands, wives and children able to enjoy the event.”

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