At Local Church, Murals Adorn Children’s Hall of Faith

=When people visit the Children’s Hall of Faith at Garden Grove Baptist Church, they see a vibrant, colorful gallery of eight original murals depicting time-honored scenes and events from the text of the Bible. Children, in particular, admire these floor-to-ceiling acrylic artworks and are meant to learn. They are meant to be inspired. They are meant to find faith.

All eight murals lining this 42-foot hall, painted over a two-year period, were created by Tom Ammons, an artist who also serves as the children’s deacon at Garden Grove Baptist, 18131 Stromberg Ave., Brooksville. And they were debuted for public view on July 17 and 19 at the dual dedications of the church’s Children’s Hall of Faith.

“This is the hall that children walk to go to Bible study classes, to the teen room, to Kids Club activities,” said Ammons. “As they walk the hall, they learn the stories of the Bible.”

Ammons completed the murals at the request of Pastor James Caskey, who presides over Garden Grove Baptist’s services.

“In the wake of Covid, we saw a lot of kids no longer coming to church,” Caskey told the crowd assembled at the July 19 Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. “Now we want to welcome them back. And I knew that Tom could help.”

Readily accepting the challenge, resident artist Ammons—whose chalk portrait adorns the front of the church sanctuary—set to work on a collection of one-of-a-kind murals that would serve to draw children into the Bible—at times literally. “I used bright colors and big illustrations for the murals,” he said. “And I incorporated popular characters from the stories and movies kids love.”

Look closely at the Noah’s Ark mural, and a kid can learn just how many humans and animals were on the ark. In other murals featuring everyone from Adam and Eve to David vs. Goliath, these classic figures are drawn in a way that is humorous and accessible to kids.

“Whenever the kids walk down this hall,” said church affiliate Mary Ammons, also the wife of Tom Ammons, “They will learn something new.”

And they will see themselves. Indeed, the centerpiece mural in this whimsical, masterfully painted collection is a unique interpretation of the classic image of Jesus and the children–and in this rendering, Jesus is surrounded by a dozen children who attend Garden Grove Baptist Church.

“I worked from photos of the kids at our church, making drawings of each of them,” Ammons explained. “Then I placed their images in the portrait.”

Many of these kids saw this and other murals at the June 17 dedication, at a Kids Club activity for kids ages 4 to 12, which included a Bible lesson, music, games, snow cones, and a bounce house. A Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting followed on July 19.

“We’re proud of what this church is doing to bring children of this community to faith,” said Barry Buchmiller, Chamber of Commerce ambassador.

James Caskey is also proud, and he is greatly impressed by his deacon’s work. “I would come to the church in the morning and see Tom at work on his murals,” he said. And when I left in the evening, he’d still be at work.”

His son, 13-year-old Eli Caskey, is also impressed. “As a child of a pastor, I already know the stories told in these murals. But they bring back childhood memories,” he said. “And for kids new to the church, I know they’ll learn a lot.”