Come Share Our Vision

• What is the Trucker Ministry?


• What are the drivers like?


• How did it start ?


• How do we invite the drivers?


• The service is like a normal Church service.


• How do we follow up on the drivers after Sunday morning?


• Wouldn't you like to practice what you have learned in the Bible about taking the Gospel to others with the love of Christ?

What is the TA Truck Stop Ministry

We give God the GLORY and the Praise for the good things He has done. Luke 14:23 states it best "And the Lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."

"The crossroads of America"-That's the Wentzville logo but I never realized just how true the "crossroads" was until we started the trucker outreach ministry at the TA Truck stop in Foristell, Mo. in July , 2001. We're celebrating eight years of this ministry now!

In one day, we can connect with truckers and travelers from all over the country. In the past 8 years, we have had the opportunity to minister to more than 3200 truckers from all across America including Canada and Mexico. The Lord has certainly enlarged the borders of tiny West-Plex Community Church through this dynamic local outreach ministry.

If you're in the area, we invite you to come join us at 9:00 a.m. any Sunday to experience ministering to much neglected, needy, love starved, lonely, and sometimes broken hearted and poor in spirit human beings. Each week is unique as the needs of this special group vary with each trucker who comes.

What are the truckers like?

Many who come to our services are Christians looking for an oasis on Sunday morning. Some are just bored, waiting to drop their trailer loads somewhere in the St. Louis area on Monday morning, and some are waiting for a phone call telling them where to go next to pick up a new one. Some are alone in life, but many have families who they miss and only see every three or four weeks. Many have had difficult lives. Both men and women truckers have been a part of our ministry. One female trucker had her son traveling with her to keep him close by while he was recovering from a drug problem. He trusted in Christ after hearing Jim Kane preach the Gospel message one morning. Their life stories are like ours, they have families with health problems, marriage problems, and problems with children. They need a Savior just as we do, and they find refreshment for their souls being able to worship and have Bible study with us. What a unique opportunity to practice what we have learned about loving others with God's word and truth.

How did it start?

The idea of the trucker ministry grew out of Paul Kruse's visitation contacts in the first few weeks of the West-Plex Community Church in January, 2001. He started bringing truckers to join us for Sunday evening services in the place we rented at that time (Foristell Christian Church building). Each driver expressed over and over their appreciation for the opportunity to worship God and His Son Jesus Christ with other fellow believers. In July of that year, Paul asked the TA manager if we could meet at their facility for Sunday morning services. Within a few days we were up and running, and have been reaching out to 10 to 15 drivers weekly with the good news of Jesus Christ ever since then. In the entire eight years, we've only had one Sunday that no truckers came, and 2 Sundays we needed to cancel services due to inclement winter weather.

How do we invite the drivers to come?

Although a sign in the TV room at the truck stop states the service times, usually we get truckers to attend because of the great location in the facility and the one-to-one invitation from ministry helpers. Our men take flyers throughout the complex, inviting truckers who are fueling up, getting a meal, playing games, or doing their laundry and just hanging around. The TV room itself is set up like a small theatre with three rows of movie theater type seats facing a big screen TV. It's kind of dark and smoky in there, so we try to brighten things up when we arrive... with gospel music, some sunshine through the windows, a spray of air freshener, and friendly greetings to those who walk in. We also have a wooden cross and a sign board telling the drivers when the services begin and where we meet. We provide transportation for them if they also want to go to the 10:45 am service at West-Plex Community Church, about 2 miles south of the Truckstop.

The service is like an ordinary Church service

Our services are simple and casual. We sing praise songs. Occasionally we have special music...by one of the drivers or us. Truckers who have been gifted with music ministry are eager to share it in services like this and they bring their guitars or tapes with them. That part of the service always is a blessing. Volunteer preachers from a variety of local churches always present a wonderful Gospel message, which speaks to the hearts of the truckers. We offer a time of prayer requests, praying immediately and specifically for each one stated. After the official service each of us "locals," spend time with sweet fellowship, listening and praying with each one of the truckers who remain.

How do we follow up on the drivers after Sunday morning?

Some of the ways we have reached out to the truckers has been to share meals with them in the truck stop at lunchtime, or giving them a ride to local places they've needed to go. We've picked them up to take them to our community worship service, and helped them with expenses for food, laundry, lodging, paid bus tickets for stranded ones occasionally, or whatever the need may be. We've prayed with them and provided each one with a packet of information including a Trucker's New Testament Bible (NIV) called "The Road Home", the Daily Bread Devotionals, the Child Evangelism Fellowship Mailbox Club flyer and other literature as it's available.

Want to help and practice what you have learned in the Bible about taking the Gospel to others with the love of Christ?

Our crossroads at the West-Plex affords us a unique opportunity to reach people as Jesus instructed us. From the highways and the byways, truckers are just sitting at our doorway and we can share the Gospel with Scripture, words of encouragement and acts of kindness. Only the Lord knows what seeds have been planted, sprouted, or rooted in because of the work He has established for us here.

Please join us in your prayer support and any way you feel called. There is room for you in this work if you want to participate. It's been a great joy to see barriers dissolve and sparkles back in the eyes of normally depressed people as the truckers hearts are touched by God's word. Contact Paul Kruse (636-561-3179 or paulwkruse@centurytel.net). We'll help you get connected to this vital ministry.