Residents buy bus for Christian cowboy ministry

Ropin' the Truth ministry representatives stand beside their new bus, purchased with monetary donations.

BAKER — Ropin’ the Truth, an Escambia Farms-based Christian youth ministry, now has reliable transportation for carrying program participants to field trips and rodeos, thanks to several North Okaloosa residents’ contributions.

Donors helped purchase a 22-passenger 1990 Ford bus for the ministry at the suggestion of Mike Carroll, owner of Hub City Smokehouse and Grill, who learned about the need after catering a Ropin’ the Truth fundraiser.

Carroll purchased the vehicle with donations from Gentleman’s Choice Barber Shop, Robert Price of Matrix Employee Leasing, Day’s Tire and Services Center, Okaloosa County Facility Maintenance Director Don Turner and resident Roger Prescott.

Ropin’ the Truth, a Cross Creek Country Fellowship Inc., ministry, is a free program that promotes a Christian cowboy lifestyle of horse riding, fishing and other outdoor activities for its almost

60 participants.

The bus — which has 7,900 miles on it and cost $750, including automotive repair costs — has air conditioning and more room for transporting horse riding equipment, contrasted with the group’s current bus, Pastor David Bracewell said.

The bus will “enable us to do so much more,” he said. “We are just ecstatic about it.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents buy bus for Christian cowboy ministry