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Gary Nussbaum, TFC's Director of Church & Community Relations shares with a visitor at the Annual 2008 MATS event.

Before the show begins, the truck stop ministries set aside time to meet on Wednesday afternoon. This year 26 people attended representing five different trucking ministries. Doug Kraus, TFC Director of Location Development, chaired the meeting and reminded us of our unified purpose in light of the diversity of approaches to meeting the challenging need before us.

Also held just before the show began on Thursday morning was the 9th Annual National Day of Prayer for Truckers. This prayer time is open for anyone to join. Bob Hataway, President and Founder of TransAlive Ministries, chaired the meeting. The key address was given by Gary Nussbaum, TFC Director of Church & Community Relations. Jerry and Sharon Benson provided special music. Joe Hunter, President and Founder of Truck Stop Ministries, closed the hour with a special prayer for truck drivers. What a privilege it is to connect with God and other drivers.

We are very grateful for the generosity the Young family has shown TFC over the years in providing complimentary booth space for us. Our presence at the show is a plus as we continue to build relationships with truck drivers and those in the trucking industry.

This year, we had the opportunity to introduce drivers and trucking companies to our newest Web site designed to minister to trucker's needs: www.driverwellness.com. We met a potential volunteer interested in serving on one of our chapels, interacted with a number of TFC supporters, and introduced TFC to many more. I was especially privileged to meet several drivers I had became friends with while chaplain on the Lodi Chapel in the early 90s.

In years past, we were able to bring the mobile chapel inside as part of our exhibit. The chapel always seemed to stand out. Many drivers would recognize us, having visited some of our chapels while on the road, and stop by to express their deep thanks for the chapels and chaplains. The usual question this year from those who stopped by to encourage us was, "Where is the chapel?" We hope there will be room in the future to include the mobile chapel again during MATS.

Again this year, many said, "Thanks for being there for us."

We realize that we couldn't be there for them if it were not for you. To all of our prayer and financial partners, thank you for helping us to share the Good News with truckers and the trucking industry. We look forward to the opportunity to go to MATS again next year to spread the word of how God is using your partnership to reach drivers for Him.

If you would like to host TFC at your truck show or some other event, please contact us by e-mail or by calling 717-426-9977.

Back row left: Mike Hayden, Director of Business & Finance listen to a couple. Front row left: Pearl Nussbaum, wife of Gary Nussbaum spends time with a female driver.

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