COUNSELING AND MINISTRY FOR TRUCK DRIVERS OFFERED

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Along with the expected conveniences and services, Gene Rhodes said his new truck stop at Nash Road and Interstate 55 will have a unique service - counseling and ministry for drivers who stop there. With that, drivers will be able take care of their spiritual as well as temporal needs as they travel the interstates.

The concept originated with a group based in Denver, Penn., Transport for Christ International (TFC). The organization describes itself as a interdenominational Christian organization that evangelizes to truck drivers. It has eight "chapels" in operation, which are housed in truck trailers at truck stops.

Most are along the Atlantic seaboard. The Cape Girardeau facility, to be housed in the new Rhodes restaurant building, will be the first housed in a permanent building.

Rhodes and the facility manager, Randy Fontaine, said the service is based on need, since professional truck drivers are encountering more stress than before. "Since deregulation in the 1980s, the average truck driver is working up to 100 hours a week and gets home only four to six weekends a year," Rhodes pointed out. "The average turnover rate for truckers is 70 percent annually now." The conditions lead to family and personal problems and drug abuse, which affect job performance.

"We feel this may help alleviate much of the pressure and tension," Fontaine said. He made contact with the organization after hearing about its work and asked if they would consider locating here.

Kermit Meystedt, of Genesis Transportation Co. Inc., has been in contact with TFC executive director Bruce Prestidge several years and has high regard for the program and its services. "There is a legitimate need for this with the truck drivers," he said. "Being on the road so much, they have a lot of time to themselves and miss church on Sunday." Meystedt is organizing an informational meeting in April to introduce the concept here and determine potential local support.

When the service is up to speed, chaplains will be available for counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will operate on split shifts of one week on, one week off.

Rhodes is providing space in the back of the restaurant building. The chaplain has a small living area adjacent to a 240 square foot chapel. Fontaine said the chaplains are not ordained ministers, but some are degreed. The ones who are married usually follow the circuit with their spouses.

He said while the ministry is primarily focused at truck drivers, other people in need are also accepted. It has no charge but donations are accepted.

The service will be available at first on weekends at first, then full time by the end of this year. Non-denominational religious services will be conducted on Sundays and mid week later.