I am living proof that God does use the foolish things of the world. At the age of 15, I dropped out of high school and rode my thumb from Louisiana to California. After several months on the road, I returned to Anacoco, Louisiana. I reconnected with Marla, my childhood sweetheart, and about a year later we married. We began our American dream: raising a family and enjoying life. The first 10 years of our marriage had their ups and downs due to drugs and alcohol, along with the trucking lifestyle of being gone for weeks at a time from my family. I did not have the Lord in my life. However, on May 9, 1993, at nearly 27 years of age, God had a different plan for me. He saved my soul and He radically changed my life.
About three years later, I surrendered to the ministry. Things weren’t always perfect but the Lord blessed us in many ways. One of the ways was with 3 beautiful children and 9 wonderful grandchildren. Marla and I enjoyed almost 34 years of marriage before the Lord took her home to be with Him.
Thinking back, I know that one of the influences on my life as a young Christian was a Truckstop Ministries, Inc. Chaplain I met in Franklin, Tennessee. It was while driving OTR that I had this encounter. Being a new Christian and stranded at a truck stop for the weekend, I didn’t know what to do to pass time. Fortunately for me, the truck stop had a Fellowship Meeting and a Chaplain that reached out to me that day. He went above and beyond what his responsibilities were to help me out. I have never forgotten that experience. I think that was the moment a spark was created. I knew then that I wanted to be able to help other Drivers with their struggles. It was a few years later, at a truck show in Dallas, TX, I met Joe Hunter for the first time. After talking with Joe and Mrs. Jan, I knew that I wanted to be a part of Truckstop Ministries, Inc. I decided then that I wanted to become a volunteer with Truckstop Ministries but it was actually a few years later before it happened.
Over the last 20+ years, I have pastored several churches in addition to owning my own trucking company, One Way Trucking, LLC. However, I have always had a place in my heart for TMI. Thankfully, the Lord sent me a second wife, Nancy. Nancy retired and this desire of mine finally became a reality. My wife and I became fulltime volunteers and National Recruiters for TMI. We have been traveling across the country sharing the gospel by preaching at Chapels and truck shows, or wherever the Lord opens a door.
It is truly an honor and privilege to get to serve in this new fulltime position with TMI.