James and Cynthia Hodge, out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, started their “Trucking for the Word of God Ministry” earlier this year without a real plan as to how it would come together.
They felt a calling to start a ministry for truck drivers, but they didn’t have a truck, trailer or anything else to get the ministry off the ground. They soon came across a 2000 Haulmark enclosed car hauler trailer that would become a rolling depiction of some of the more well-known stories from the Bible, as well as a tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces.
The driver’s side of the trailer depicts a number of Bible stories, ranging from creation to Revelation. The rear and passenger’s side of the trailer feature American flag graphics and the seals of the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. It also features a tribute to truck drivers. All of the art on the trailer was airbrushed by hand by Georgia-based artist Mary Lovell.
James Hodge says the goal for the ministry is to reach truckers and others to teach them about Christianity and “to inspire people to see the pictures on the trailer and read the scripture that goes with the picture.”
After the trailer came together, Hodge found the 1985 Peterbilt 359 EXHD in the Truck Paper and bought it for the ministry. The rig is powered by a Cat 3408 with a 6 and 4 transmission. It sits on a 280-inch wheelbase and sports a 60-inch flattop sleeper.
Hodge says he did a few things to touch up the truck after they bought it, but it was in good shape and didn’t require too much work to fix up.
