Viral Murals Blend Faith and Fitness at Alabama Church
A Solid Shepherd United Methodist Church in Madison, Alabama, is gaining viral attention for its unique gym murals depicting biblical figures participating in modern sports. The artwork, featuring “Air Moses” and “Pickleball Paul,” has resonated with social media users, sparking humorous commentary and highlighting the church’s efforts to connect with the community.
“Air Moses” and the Flaming Basketball
The mural of “Air Moses” portrays the biblical figure with winged sandals, leaping through the air with a flaming basketball replacing the traditional burning bush. Created by Atlanta artist Chad Camp around 2006, the artwork initially served as a fun addition to the church’s gym when they launched their Upward Sports basketball program, according to Pastor Brittany Dawkins-Camp.
“Pickleball Paul” Takes the Court
More recently, the church added “Pickleball Paul,” an image of the Apostle Paul playing pickleball in flip-flops and a peace sign. This mural arrived approximately two years ago, coinciding with the church’s establishment of a community pickleball league that meets three days a week in the gym. Camp, who too happens to be Dawkins-Camp’s ex-husband, painted both murals.
Social Media Buzz and Community Connection
The murals gained widespread attention after Andie Williams, a local soccer coach, shared a video of the artwork on Instagram on March 6. The video quickly went viral, amassing nearly 200,000 likes and a flood of humorous comments, such as “Our Father, who hoop in heaven” and “And three days later Jesus rose… above the rim with a nasty 360 windmill.”
Dawkins-Camp shared that the congregation has been thrilled with the positive response. The church even played a news clip about the murals during a recent worship service, emphasizing their commitment to being an active part of the community. “It’s been fun to watch that go viral, and for people to love our murals as much as we do,” she said.
Artist Behind the Scenes
Chad Camp, the artist behind both murals, can be found on Instagram.