Memories of a Truck Stop Chaplain: The World of Otr (Over the Road Driver)

Our Chapel was not open 7 days a week because there were not enough Chaplains. If you are looking for a ministry, there is a great need for Chaplains. Truck drivers are one of the least groups that Christian’s minister to. Even churches who almost sit next door to truck stops, disregard them. Compared to the number of ＂Full Service＂ Truck Stops there are few Chapels. You could say there are virtually none. And, even worse there are few Full Time and Volunteer Chaplains to staff them. Most of the Chapels are not open 24 hours or even 7 days a week. OTR Drivers are active 24 hours a day. With so few Chapels and Chaplains, that limits drivers to even have access to a Chapel, much less find one open. There are very few churches, even in rural areas that have room in their parking lots for a ＂big rig.＂ It is a much-needed domestic ministry. It lacks Chapels because there are so few Chaplains. Chaplains have to raise their own financial support. The lack of financial support means Chaplains, both Full Time and volunteer, need to raise their own support. Local church support, along with individual support, for this domestic mission is needed.