After a sudden flood devastated the towns of Globe and Miami, Arizona, Calvary Shadows Assembly of God’s roadside prayer drive-thru emerged as a beacon of hope—offering comfort, connection, and compassion to those in need.
🌧️ In the Wake of the Flood, Prayer Becomes a Lifeline in Globe and Miami
When a flash flood tore through the sister towns of Globe and Miami, Arizona, on the evening of September 30, devastation followed in its wake—homes submerged, businesses ruined, and families left in shock. But amid the mud and heartbreak, a small roadside prayer station became a beacon of hope.
For the past four months, Pastor Allen Tyson and his wife Cherie, leaders of Calvary Shadows Assembly of God in Globe, have faithfully hosted a twice-weekly “drive-thru” prayer ministry. Serving a combined population of just 9,000, the station was already a quiet source of comfort. But after the flood, its presence became essential.
“Many businesses’ interiors were destroyed and caked in layers of mud,” Tyson shared. “And there are so many people who are now homeless, sleeping in tents or their cars.”
Tyson, 75, and Cherie, 76, have served in ministry for nearly five decades, with the last 13 years at Calvary Shadows. On the Sunday following the flood, Tyson reached out to Convoy of Hope, the Assemblies of God’s compassion partner. By Tuesday, a truckload of relief supplies arrived at the church—miraculously spared from flood damage.
Even before the truck came, Tyson and volunteers were already at work. On Monday morning, they opened the prayer station daily, offering not only spiritual support but tangible aid. The 25-member congregation gave what they could, including funds to help a single mother and her three children who had lost their home.
“On Tuesday, Convoy of Hope dropped off pallets of hygiene supplies, socks, cans of macaroni in sauce with beef, and other relief items,” Tyson said. “We packed our bus with those supplies and took them to the prayer drive-thru. We put up signs and began to distribute the supplies to the people coming through… just so many people needing help and a place to stay.”
The church also distributed 50 backpacks filled with essentials. Within hours, every one had been given away.
Though small in number, Calvary Shadows is rich in compassion. Tyson believes the church is entering a new season—one marked by deeper community impact. “I believe it could be two years for the community to fully recover,” he said quietly.
The prayer ministry itself was born from a desire to reach beyond the church walls. After being asked to relocate by the county, Tyson found favor with the owner of the local Red Roof Inn, who offered his parking lot freely, saying he believed God would bless him for it.
Since then, the drive-thru has become a sacred space. Tyson has been moved by the vulnerability of those who stop by—some seeking prayer for healing, reconciliation, or missing children. “Prior to starting our prayer station, I never thought about looking at the people driving next to me and wondering what they’re going through,” he admitted. “But now I can’t help but look at people that way.”
At its core, the ministry is simple but profound: to remind people that someone cares. “We care for them,” Tyson said, “and God is there for them.”
