Riding the Rails

Paul was committed to serving others and sharing the truth of the Scriptures, desiring to see people come into a saving knowledge of Christ. In 1st Corinthians 9, we read:
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;
20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Paul was committed to sharing Christ in creative and compelling ways.  He did not wait on people to come to him, but he travelled extensively in order to share God's truth.  He also built relationships and attempted to find common ground with people, not in order to compromise that truth but in order to win them to our Savior.  The practice of Christianity is an active faith; and we can be challenged to not be content with relying on people to come to us, but to boldly testify to His grace.

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In Matthew 9, we read about how Jesus was on the move.  The One Who calls us to go was certainly going Himself:
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

One of the things I like to do is to highlight creative ways of communicating the gospel message.  I came across a little article at the Religion News Service website that was more than a little intriguing to me.

It basically is a press release that says the National Museum of American Religion is attempting to save a "chapel car," named Good Will.

A chapel car?  Are you familiar with that concept?  The article goes on:

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of Christian denominations invested in chapel cars – these were train cars that served as traveling chapels, bringing clergy, sacraments, and religious resources to people living along the railroad lines.

The Good Will is owned by the American Baptist Publication Society.  The first of these chapel cars was built by the Pullman Company in 1890.  The Pullman State Historic Site website says that:

The first of these cars, and the most famous, was built by the Pullman Company in 1890 for the newly appointed Episcopalian bishop of North Dakota, called the Cathedral Car of North Dakota.

The Right Reverend William Walker realized the enormity of his task, creating sustainable dioceses in the sparsely settled Dakota territories. He hit upon the idea of creating a chapel car that could visit around the diocese, conduct services, and generally perform all of the functions of a parish church. In 1889, Walker approached a number of people on the east coast for contributions.

According to Christianity.com:

Whether Walker knew it or not, chapel cars were already in use in England on remote sidings. But he was good at selling his idea. Cornelius Vanderbilt, One of America's richest men, gave the first donation to the new ministry and Walker's first chapel car was delivered in 1890.

That would have been the son of the Commodore who founded Vanderbilt University.  Thomas Edison got in on the act, too, providing these chapels on wheels with his new invention - the phonograph.

The article also says that:

"The Cathedral Car," as it was called, traveled over seventy thousand miles during its ten years of service. Many of the men who visited it came merely out of curiosity, but untold numbers of others accepted the Christian way of life or were strengthened in their Christian walk through it.

According to the Chapel Cars of America website, there were 13 such cars that traversed the tracks of America.  The Pullman site states:

A number of chapel cars operated in the U.S., including 7 operated by the American Baptist Publication Society, which were endowed by Nelson Rockefeller. The golden age of these cars came to end in 1918.

New regulations brought an end to the chapel car.  The Pullman website also says that the original Cathedral Car had a pump organ and a baptismal font.

In a sense, you could say that Christianity was intended to be mobile.  Jesus set an example - He went to the people, He traveled regularly.  Our churches are excellent places for the body to gather for teaching and fellowship, but we also recognize that God has sent us out.  And, the local church is the hub, the ministry center, the home base for ministry throughout the community.

I think this also can encourage us in finding creative means to share truth.  In a society that is truth-starved, we can provide the bread of life and the living water to people who need to hear.  Just as in the late 19th Century, when people did not necessarily have a place to go for truth, we have to be proactive in pointing people to the truth of God, for it is covered up or distorted in the media tidal wave and moral relativism that is so prevalent.

I also think it's thrilling to see God's provision here - these gospel train cars were funded by  Vanderbilt and Rockefeller.  Even Thomas Edison got in on the act.  Funding is a critical and necessary component in doing effective institutional ministry.  And, you know, perhaps God will use an unlikely source to provide in our lives.  We can ask Him, and if there is a cause about which we are passionate, perhaps He will direct you to contact someone unlikely or illogical to help further the work He has called you to do - ultimately, He is our provider.