ATHENS - For children in east Athens, the familiar sight of the wildly-painted purple and green truck signals more than just treats. The truck, which carries hot dogs, sodas and candy also doubles as a faith learning center. <br>
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Local minister Joe Loyal has been bringing messages of faith for the past four years to inner-city children and prison inmates through his non-denominational, nonprofit Faith Today Ministries Inc. <br>
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On any given Saturday, Loyal, an Atlanta native, can be found handing out treats from the back of the ministry-owned delivery truck that folds out into a puppet stage, sound board and faith learning center. <br>
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``Church is boring for most kids,'' Loyal said. ``We try to give them an atmosphere where they can be themselves.'' <br>
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Loyal said the kids, most of whom are already hardened by the harshness of life, come out in droves to participate. <br>
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Ten-year-old Samuel Taylor is one of about 50 children who participate in the mobile church. Taylor admits he doesn't attend church regularly, but calls Loyal's mobile church ``awesome.'' <br>
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The kids watch puppet shows, sing songs and play games, like ``Fruit of the Spirit,'' where they draw pieces of paper printed with words such as ``love'' and ``forgiveness'' from a bucket. <br>
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``We try to introduce them to the Lord in a way that is digestible to them,'' Loyal said. ``We speak to them on their own level...because they are the future, and the foundation of the future church.'' <br>
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Teaching the children about God has a special meaning for Loyal, who 25 years ago was a sales representative for a major food company. Loyal said he had the comfort of material wealth but was still dissatisfiend with his life. <br>
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``I was called by God, not by man, to teach the youth,'' he said.
