Pancake and Prayer: Memphis First Church Finds a Unique Outreach Approach

Members of the Memphis First Church, Tenn., have started a ministry offering free pancakes and prayer to anyone passing by, with the goal to provide support and connection for their community members.

The initiative, led by church member Tim Edwards, started with a simple idea: using the church’s new electronic sign and a prayer tent to reach out to passing drivers. Edwards, who has a background in sales and marketing, believed a non-intrusive approach would be the most effective to reaching community members.

“We have hundreds of cars passing by our church every day,” Edwards said. “We wanted to encourage them to stop by and let us pray with them.”

The ministry sets up a tent near the church driveway every Sunday morning, where volunteers cook pancakes and offer prayers to anyone who asks. According to Edwards, some visitors simply stop for a meal, while others open up about personal struggles, including financial difficulties and family hardships.

Keith Noll, a church member, said the effort has already made an impact, recalling that one volunteer, who has been attending church for a year but is not yet a member, shared his testimony during a breakfast and later decided to be baptized. Another woman, a former Adventist who attended Oakwood University, stopped by for pancakes and prayer and accepted an invitation to visit the Memphis First Church.

“People are hurting,” Noll said. “This is a way to show them we care, without pressure or expectations. It’s not rocket science. Just set up a tent, make some pancakes, and be there for people.”

The ministry begun in February 2025. In the first five weeks, it drew a bit over 30 visitors. Volunteers say they plan to continue as long as the weather permits, with potential expansions, such as offering free car washes.

“It’s not just about getting people into church,” Edwards said. “It’s about meeting people where they are and showing them God’s love. There is no business plan — just the Holy Spirit telling us what we need to do.” 

The church hopes to build connections with visitors by keeping records of those who stop by and following up with personal invitations to future events. Though results vary from week to week, with some Sundays bringing more visitors than others, Noll says they are committed to the effort.

“Sometimes, it’s like fishing,” Noll said. “You don’t always catch something, but you keep casting your line.”