The story of Trucker and Traveler Ministry in Carlisle Pennsylvania

A sower went out to sow...

Route 11 north of Carlisle PA is possibly the busiest stretch of non-interstate roadway in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  It serves as a connector between I-81 and the PA Turnpike (I-76).  Along this ``Miracle Mile" many restaurants, motels, truckstops and other businesses are located, benefiting from the large volume of traffic through this area.  Also located within a ten-mile radius of this interchange, at least 25 trucking related facilities are located, with more under construction.  Large truck terminals for ABF, Consolidated Freight, Roadway, Schneider, Swift, Shaffer, Daily Express and Keen Transport are along route 11 within a mile of the interchange. Warehouses for many major retail and wholesale suppliers are nearby.  Over 20,000 trucks pass through this stretch of highway every day.

In  February, 1985, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, recognizing the need for a ministry of presence in the truckstops of this busy crossroads community, gathered a group of pastors and laypeople from local churches to meet with representatives of the truckstops and trucking industry, and the planning for this ministry began.  Five thousand dollars each from the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Central PA Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Penn Central Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Southern PA District of the Church of the Brethren, and the Synod of the Trinity and Carlisle Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church, USA served as seed money for this endeavor.  Many local churches contributed $500 each as well. 

With funds available, and a job description developed, Chaplain Jack Keeler was called to serve beginning in January of 1986.  Chaplain Jack initiated relationships with management and staff, drivers and transients, that developed the ministry into a vital part of the service the truckstops offer to their drivers.  Chaplain Jack continues in ministry at a parish in north-central Pennsylvania, although he left the truckstop ministry in April of 1989.

January of 1990 brought a new chaplain to Carlisle, but a familiar face.  Rev. Donald L. Mason was called to the position.  Rev. Mason, now known more as Chaplain Don, served the Carlisle Rural Charge of the United Church of Christ as pastor and the Steering Committee of the Carlisle Truckstop Ministry since its inception.  He served as chair of this committee for two years, and also served as chair of the PA Council of Churches' Statewide Truckstop Ministry Committee. Effective April 1, 2004 Chaplain Don accepted a call as pastor of Buena Vista Congregational UCC in Buena Vista, Colorado.

Chaplain Daniel Lehigh of East Berlin began July 1, 2004.

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