Former georgia pastor delivering the gospel by way of trucking business

Cruising down Interstate 35 in Texas between Laredo and San Antonio, Roland Dann says he's found his calling in ministry.

However, most of the people he witnesses to never see him. His pulpit is 80,000 pounds moving at 65 miles per hour. Furthermore, it's not unusual for prayer meetings to take place over plates of country fried steak and mashed potatoes.

Dann attests that his job as a truck driver gives him a lot of mileage when talking to others about Christ.

"I've ministered to more people and witnessed to more lost people in 16 months as a truck driver than 15 years as a pastor. Before, I spent all my time with church people," says Dann, who occasionally preaches revivals when he's home in Springfield.

Before going on the road, Dann had pastored Green Fork Baptist Church in Millen and Emmanuel Baptist Church in Springfield. In November 2003 he and his wife, Linda, made the decision to part with Emmanuel and go in a different ministerial direction.

 

A ministry born

The Danns refinanced their home and Roland used the money to buy a used semi for $40,000 from Covenant Trucking, a Christian trucking company in Chattanooga, Tenn. He also purchased a $15,000 trailer to haul goods.

Dann had previously driven a truck and still had his commercial drivers license, clearing the way for the establishing of My Father's Business Transport Company.

In launching his own trucking business, Dann became one of the 3.3 million truck drivers in the U.S. and 1.9 million of those driving tractor trailers, according to truckinfo.net.

Total revenue estimates for the trucking industry are at $255.5 billion. However, for every dollar in revenue the average trucking company has a cost of 95.2 cents, yielding a profit of four cents. Drivers tend to make about 30 cents a mile - $32,000 a year.

Dann says the time spent away from home and lack of welcome in some areas also has an effect on drivers.

"When a trucker get into his truck in the morning, he's entering the most dangerous place in the world - the highways of America. These guys are the most unappreciated in the country.

"In many towns, there are many places that won't let a trucker park. In West Virginia, there are separate rest areas for truckers. The ones for truckers have port-a-potties instead of indoor bathrooms. People want the goods but not the trucks."

 

Giving the message

Dann preaches to anyone within sight of his truck through messages painted on the front and back of the cab. He purposely bought a flat bed trailer for those behind him to be able to read Romans 10:13 - "Whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - on the back of the truck. Spotlights controlled by Dann from the cab allow him to flash the message.

On the front of the truck, "Jesus Loves You" is lit up for drivers. Dann testifies to people noticing the message.

"I'm one driver, one man," he says. "We've gone to 44 states and driven 165,000 miles in 16 months. I have had drivers from all over the country acknowledge this truck."

Dann is quick to point out the overall lesson he has learned since hitting the road. The focus of the believer, he maintains, should be on others and what one should do in their own personal ministry.

"There's not a single person who can't do the things I do in their own workplace," he points out. "We need to get out of the church and out of the pew and talk to people about Jesus. There's a hurting world out there.

"I've learned in trucking how receptive people are to the gospel. They want to hear our message."

 

Opportunities nationwide

Dann says he mainly hauls military freight, which gives him a lot of opportunities to be on military bases. Once while at a Marine base, Dann found himself with four hours to kill while his trailer was being loaded. While there, a number of soldiers made their way to talk to the preacher. The scene prompted a commanding officer to tell Dann he had seen more Jesus on the base that morning than he'd seen in a long time.

Dann's travels have taken him from coast to coast and through two Canadian provinces. He's witnessed the heat of Miami and the rains of Seattle and everything in between during his journeys.

"Once in Florida, another semi passed me and blew its horn. The driver started talking to me on the CB and said 'Hey Preacher Man! You don't know me but last year in Philadelphia you handed me one of your tracts and I just wanted you to know it's still here on my dash.'"

The tract the driver was talking of is one Dann wrote called Road News is Good News. He says it's just another way of sharing Jesus.

"I have nine to 11 hours on the road each day," he says. "During that time I've prayed with a lot of folks about their worries and troubles, letting them know someone is there for them. This is the most exciting ministry I've ever been a part of."