Gone are the days when evangelistic outreaches meant unbelievable hardships. Knocking on doors, distributing leaflets in offices and bringing neighbors to church was the mission. One of the challenges, however, was how to gain access to their audience. Not that the evangelists have adapted to the challenges associated with their mission. In fact, the challenges increase every passing day. At least not until the introduction of wheels on gospel concept in most parts of Africa. They have found better ways of accessing their audience.
Living water international believes is Christian Charity that has been in the forefront digging boreholes in arid Africa
Image source: www.commercialmotor.com
Wheel power was a concept most popular in the western countries. However, the concept has spread to most African countries. Evangelistic crusaders realized that Africa and Africans need this good news just like other people around the world. They would like to supply literature and teaching materials for use by and with their audience. Therefore, it is not without reason you have experienced Christian cyclists, truck drivers and other evangelistic passengers spreading the gospel of the good news in public service vehicles or using autos forums for their mission.
South Africa’s ‘Gospel Chariot’
Just like there are, various ways of teaching the gospel, so are the varied ways most evangelists are using to reach the audience. South Africa’s most innovative preacher, George Funk saw opportunities of reaching the masses across 9 African countries through his gigantic truck and trailer dubbed ‘Gospel Chariot’.
An African missionary preaching from a truck’s pulpit
Image Source: www.gospelchariot.org
The Gospel Chariot is an 18-wheeler truck, 56 feet long with a carrying capacity that accommodates over 20 tons of free bibles, teaching courses and all sorts of religious literature. Besides, Funk use his red Mercedes Benz truck to carry all the necessary equipment for his missionary work and journey from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique. More often, Funk and his evangelistic team stops for a one-month’s evangelistic mission in each of these African countries before proceeding to the next and back to South Africa, finally. The cycle continues throughout the year.
To aid in the evangelistic mission, Funk had his truck designed in three parts: auditorium, sleeping quarters and the kitchen. The auditorium opens out to the pulpit with public address system, baptistery with water, and a tent with a 300 seating capacity. The truck drivers use sleeping quarters during their missionary trips and the kitchen compartment for their cooking. It serves almost all the needs of the evangelistic mission.
