New Haven Baptist Church is inviting kids and adults of all ages to climb aboard the church's free Bible Express train ride for an interactive lesson about salvation. The train, pulled along by a four-wheeler, is easily transportable and travels to different churches on request.
New Haven members George Miller and Bob Larrabee said they wanted to make learning the foundation of religion more tangible for children, and Miller discovered barrel trains after seeing one in operation at a fest.
"I went online and saw they were pretty easy to make," Miller said.
He called on friends to help make some of the cars and Larrabee assisted in making some of the others. Each barrel has its own color that is representative of a larger lesson. Before each ride begins, Larrabee and Miller teach the children what the different colors mean.
"As they get loaded up Bob will ask them, 'Do you know what these colors represent?' and he'll go through it with them," said Miller.
They began with the brown car, the first in the line, and developed the different concepts from there. Each car has its title painted on it, like "Sinful Heart" and "Grow in Grace."
"We have to start planting the seeds," said Miller. "And this is a fun way to do it because it's very simple. Young people may not understand all of it, but they have to start somewhere."
Miller and Larrabee said the train has been a great way to introduce the complex lessons of salvation and church involvement not just to kids, but adults as well.
"As we talk to the kids, the parents are listening too," Miller said.
Larrabee said the cars have made the subjects of church, salvation and the Bible more approachable for parents who may not know much about Christianity and want to learn more. They have booklets printed of two books from the Bible to start interested individuals begin their personal journey.
Miller and Larrabee are planning to put larger, 13-inch tires on the cars to ensure a smoother ride for the kids and allow the train to hold more weight, as many adults end up wanting to go for a ride as well.
They also hope to take the train on the road more. They have previously been at the 1890s Day Parade in Ringgold, Ga., and are happy to pack up the train and take it wherever they are invited. All they require is a large enough space to comfortably drive the cars around to make the ride more enjoyable for kids.
Email Kaitlin Colon at kcolon@timesfreepress.com.