CONSTRUCTION and DEDICATION OF:
YOUR MOBILE CHAPEL
(Forerunner One)
It all started when through a trucking ministry Merwin was introduced to Jesus Christ and His simple plan for my salvation, that is when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Two years later he answered God’s call and started volunteering as a chaplain with the ministry he was saved through. That was in 1987 and then in 1988 Merwin accepted their invitation to become a full time staff chaplain. Jumping forward to 1995 when God gave Merwin and Debbie the vision for Steering Wheel Ministries. This vision was not just in truck stops but to the driver’s family as well because Merwin and Debbie have been where these families are right now. The vision God gave them was also for 18-wheel mobile chapels going from truck stop to truck stop because there are a lot of drivers who are being missed by having services only on Sunday and no one can be there during the week. Also there are a lot of truck stops that do not have chapels at all. The mobile chapel is moving from truck stop to truck stop every 4 to 7 days and is staffed 24/7 by a man who is a truck driver. The drivers also see Steering Wheel Ministries moving and know we really are a trucking ministry and we really are truck drivers so they are more willing to come and talk with us.
From the time God gave Merwin and Debbie the vision and Steering Wheel Ministries started working on it up to the completion of the mobile chapel has been 14 1/2 years. The dedication was on Saturday, July 17 at the Pilot truck stop at the Rice Hill Exit 148 off I-5 in Oregon.
The chapel trailer is being converted into a mobile chapel.
The floor is going down.
Nearing completion
The youth of United Family Fellowship, the church in Klamath Falls, Oregon that is building the Mobile Chapel wrote Scripture verses on the walls before the wood walls were put up.
Looking into the chaplain's living quarters.
The trailer was donated in 2000 and the truck was donated on November 2009 by the same dealer in Pendleton, Oregon.
Chapel Dedication and Trucker's Afternoon Of Jubilee
at Rice Hill Pilot, I-5 Exit 148 in Oregon
July 17, 2010
Pastor Mark Garrett of Cross Roads Christian Fellowship in Days Creek, OR started off the dedication service by leading us in praise and worship.
Merwin Rhoades, founder and president of Steering Wheel Ministries brought the dedication message as we dedicated Steering Wheel Ministries' first 18-wheel mobile chapel.
Eric Barger, Chairman of the Steering Wheel Ministries board of Advisors, said a few words about the importance of a mobile chapel in the truck stops and prayed the dedication prayer.
Laying hands on the chapel annointed it in dedication to the Lord.
View from the back of the chapel area.
Giving a driver a Gift Bag as we invite him to come over for some free food and live music.
"Simply His" band was with us to help us celebrate the dedication as the Trucker's Afternoon Of Jubilee part of the day.
Looking at the view from behind "Simply His".
Looking at the ministry area and yes, we did move to a new area of the truck stop.
Ron and Kathy Green were there to sing and help us to celebrate the dedication.
Jay Cee, mother of a truck driver, read some of her poems.
