TFC’s Parade of Lights to roar through the region

The 28th annual Transport for Christ Ohio Truck Show and Benefit Auction will roll through Wayne and Holmes counties July 5-6 with a showcase of lights and sound that bring a whole new meaning to the Independence Day experience.

Each year hundreds of large semi tractor trailers and other various types of trucks will gather in unity as they line up in Kidron and descend on Holmes County in a long line of trucks that travel from day to night.

The Parade of Lights is one way for the many drivers to show their appreciation for what TFC provides truckers across the nation and globally.

“It is very much like a reunion atmosphere,” said Gary Nussbaum, TFC chaplain at the Lodi, Ohio location. “It’s always fun to see these guys get together and share stories about their experiences and their lives. Many of them feel that this is important because they want to give back.”

Truckers will bring their rigs to the Kidron Auction on Friday, July 5, beginning at 4 p.m. There will be live musical entertainment and food. The truckers will begin lining up for the Parade of Lights at 6:45 p.m.

The parade will begin at 7 p.m. and will traverse down Kidron Road to state Route 241, where the drivers will make their way into Mt. Hope. A jog to County Road 77 will take the tour through Bunker Hill and into Berlin, where the line will continue to make a circle around the area.

The trucks will head west on state Route 39/62 to County Road 201, where they will head north to Fryburg, where the procession will take a right and head east back into Mt. Hope.

The truckers have been known to go all out for this event, blaring their horns at the masses that have gathered over the years to watch the parade.

“I’m not 100 percent sure what makes this so popular, but it has become something special and unique to many people,” Nussbaum said. “I think just the sheer magnitude of the event and seeing all of these huge trucks rolling along the countryside is rare. It is incredible the way the Amish community in particular has taken to it. From the time we leave Kidron to the end of the parade in Mt. Hope, we see people lining the side of the road and having fun.”

This event has grown to the point families and friends have built parties around it as they sit along the roadside in lawn chairs, on the back of pick-up trucks or stand as they wave to the truckers as they drive by.

Many people go to great lengths to find that perfect spot along the route where they can witness the procession as it meanders across the countryside.

“I’d like to think that part of the joy of this for people here in this area is that they share the same vision we have in wanting to share the gospel,” Nussbaum said. “I think that message is so meaningful to people around here, and this community has been such a big asset in its support for our mission.”

So much so Nussbaum said other TFC areas have contacted them to find out their secret to success for their parade and auction. He said it simply comes down to people in this community caring about others and wanting to share in their mission.

Once back at Mt. Hope Auction following the parade, drivers will gather and share stories throughout the night or simply reconnect with friends, many of whom they see only on this event. The musical group, Sacred Grace Band, featuring Kathy Smoker, will perform at 9:30 p.m.

There will be a pancake and sausage breakfast on Saturday, July 6 at Mt. Hope Auction, beginning at 7 a.m., and a chicken barbecue, beginning at 11 a.m. The annual benefit auction will kick off promptly at noon, and there will be kids’ activities and vendors on site.

While the auction site in Mt. Hope will be lined with trucks as far as the eye can see, the auction, food and fun is not limited to just the trucking community. The public is welcome to attend and enjoy the atmosphere.

All of the proceeds from the event will go directly into the TFC Global trucking ministry. With 83 locations, TFC engaged nearly 50,000 drivers in 2018, sharing the gospel and being there to listen and share with drivers.

While the parade and auction have been going on for years, TFC is currently undergoing some major changes as they implement the word global into their brand.

Nussbaum said in order to be as effective as possible in sharing God’s word and spreading joy and peace to drivers, they have begun to team up with other entities to grow even bigger.

Organizations like Truckers Christian Chapel Ministries, Channel 21 Ministries and other truckers’ networks have started to unite with TFC in its mission.

“It’s a great step for us as we continue to strive to extend ourselves and become even more available to truckers,” Nussbaum said.

Mt. Hope Auction is located at 8076 state Route 241 in Millersburg.