When the Alabama Wagon Train made its way past Carlisle Baptist Church, Boaz, in February 2007, Pastor Jeff Martin could hardly believe his eyes as countless wagons and riders on horseback went by. So he ran outside to take a picture.
Then he stopped to think, "Is that all I can do, stand outside and take pictures? We ought to be able to do something to minister to these people."
So this year, when the wagon train rolled through on its way to the Southeastern Livestock Exposition and Rodeo in Montgomery, members of Carlisle Baptist and the Cowboy Church of Marshall County, Albertville, were ready with hot coffee, "trail bags" and the good news. Martin had arranged for the wagon train to make its first rest stop Feb. 26 in the Carlisle Baptist parking lot.
"It was very accommodating," said Donald Thomas, who organizes and helped start the annual 10-day, 190-mile ride from Boaz to Montgomery back in 1980.
This year’s ride drew participants from 14 states and included a number of Cowboy Church members.
During the 20-minute break, members of the two Marshall Baptist Association churches gave out trail bags that included trail mix, pretzels, pocket devotionals and brochures with the "ABCs of Becoming a Christian" printed on the back. The wagon train filled the parking lot and adjoining lot with wagons, horses, donkeys, mules, cowboys and cowgirls. The churches even provided a picket line to tie off the horses and buckets of water to give the animals some refreshment, too.
Todd Mitchell, pastor of the Cowboy Church, was full of praise for the event and for Carlisle Baptist, noting that "most churches aren’t going to open their facilities to 80 horses."
The night before the ride began, members of the Cowboy Church distributed the "Saddle-Up for Jesus Bible Pocket Partner," a monthlong devotional.
The book is geared toward cowboys and cowgirls and designed to fit into a pocket and withstand the rigors of the trail, at the Sand Mountain Saddle Club, where the wagon train originates.
The two churches are hoping to continue the ministry next year.
"It was not ‘ministry as usual,’ but it was an opportunity for both churches to share the love of Christ with those who passed by our ‘Jerusalem’ — or our neck of the woods," Martin said.
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