The lights continue to shine brightly as TFC’s 27th annual truck show and auction event approach
Transport for Christ’s annual Parade of Lights will make a trek from Kidron through Eastern Holmes County and end in Mt. Hope. It draws thousands of fans along the way. People have made a night of this unique parade, which begins during daylight but definitely comes to life after the sun goes down and the truck lights come on.
A celebration of light will brighten the night skies around Wayne and Holmes counties on Friday, July 6 as the 27th annual Transport for Christ Ohio Truck Show & Benefit Auction takes place.
The Parade of Lights has grown into a highly anticipated highlight for many throughout Amish Country as a huge parade of all types of trucks and big rigs rolls its way from Kidron through Mt. Hope, Berlin and Fryburg in a celebration of Transport for Christ’s commitment to building relationships and spreading the word of God to drivers nationwide.
“What we do is all about being a light, so this event is very appropriate,” said Gary Nussbaum, director of follow-up ministries and chaplain at the Lodi TFC center. “The past five years we have seen this event really explode, and it has become a much bigger event than we could have imagined. That is mainly because we have some great people in leadership roles who are making it happen.”
The Parade of Lights is part of a weekend celebration July 6-7 that allows truck drivers and their families to unite in a celebration of unity as they share their passion for driving together.
Drivers will congregate in Kidron at the Sprunger Building at 4 p.m., where registration for the parade will take place until 6:30 p.m. Drivers can register and enjoy pulled pork, hot dogs, chips and homemade ice cream, and from 5-6:30 p.m. local entertainer John Schmid will perform.
Drivers will hop into their rigs and begin lining up for what has become a huge drawing card for people to watch and experience.
The trucks begin their journey in Kidron as thousands of people set up lawn chairs, picnic tables or sit on the back of pick-up trucks in preparation for this moving light display of trucks.
Last year saw around 285 trucks participate, a parade that Nussbaum estimated to be more than 7 miles long when the trucks were lined up end to end.
“Two years ago we had a massive rain storm during this event, and it brought tears to my eyes to see the huge number of people under tents and umbrellas who still turned out to watch,” Nussbaum said. “We are so thankful for the support that we get, and I know the truckers are too.”
At 7 p.m. the Festival of Lights will begin, heading south on Kidron Road and throughout Holmes County, meandering along state Route 241 into Mt. Hope. From there the tour will proceed south along County Road 77 into Berlin, where they will head west on state Route 39 and north on County Road 201 before checking in at Fryburg and heading back east to Mt. Hope on state Route 241.
The truck parade will eventually end at the Mt. Hope Auction Barn, where they will enjoy an evening of entertainment.
The Mt. Hope Auction Barn will host Liberated for Him, a band which will perform from 6:30-7:30 p.m. as everyone waits for the trucks to arrive on their first trek through Mt. Hope, and then Aaron Stutzman will take the stage from 9-10 p.m. once the trucks return.
While the parade is the highlight for the community, the weekend festivities don’t stop there for the truckers.
Saturday, July 7 will feature a pancake and sausage breakfast in Mt. Hope at the auction barn at 7 a.m. Barbecued chicken and sandwiches will be available at 11 a.m., and the auction will begin at noon with supervised kids’ activities to entertain the young ones while the adults show their support for Transport for Christ by bidding on auction items.
Filled with power tools, furniture, quilts and comforters, lodging certificates, plant benches and more, the auction will provide another way for the public to give toward the TFC ministry.
Nussbaum said as the event grows, so too has the ability to create two very unique celebrations within the event: the first in Kidron, the second in Mt. Hope.
“We love having an identity for each of those communities because each has been incredible in their support of our ministry,” Nussbaum said.
Transport for Christ International is an organization that provides an effective ministry to truck drivers throughout the world wherever there is a significant trucking industry. The aim of the organization is to lead truck drivers as well as the trucking community to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith.
The goal is that no trucker should have to drive more than a day without being able to find a TFC Mobile Chapel. TFC is about building relationships, sharing faith and providing a place for drivers to regenerate physically, mentally and spiritually.