By Brother Fred Jaxheimer
A household ministry effort was the inspiration for what became the Emmaus Road Transportation Ministry. The vitality and growth observed from that humble beginning to today can be traced back to the faith and vision of those who helped organize it and expand it in August of 2016. The next month it became a functioning ecumenical ministry sponsored by Christ Lutheran Church in Conyngham Pennsylvania. It was a prayerfully discerned and brave response to fill a large void in available transportation which was exacerbated when other transportation services and ministries in the area folded.
Our mission field started with the members and friends of concern from the nine Valley Interfaith churches and those who utilized the Valley Food Pantry. In 2024 we expanded our scope to provide transportation for the homeless who are referred to us through Willow Foundation’s Heartwood Center. We provide trips for those needing access to local food pantries, monthly grocery shopping, and for scheduled medical / health service appointments. We have also honored some requests for travel related to pastoral care. And several members of our ministry team have also moved food from distribution centers to local pantries, and other ministry sites in Hazleton and the Sugarloaf Valley.
“Yes, a big part of our team’s ministry work is getting people to needed medical services or helping them acquire groceries; and yet, I view it as much more. We strengthen relationships in the community, and help people heal – physically, and sometimes emotionally, or spiritually. We give people peace of mind, and we are helping many of our travelers stay healthy and living in their own homes. We are present for those who often feel unnoticed and we proclaim the Gospel, bringing it to life out in the world.” – Br. Fred Jaxheimer, Emmaus Road Ministry Team Lead
Our outreach grew to providing 260 trips for medical services and an additional 95 trips for groceries in 2019. Our efforts expanded at a very unnerving pace to an amazing 26,000 miles logged and over 1000 volunteer driver hours recorded for that year alone.
When a traveler on our roster needs a ride to access food or a medical appointment, they call the Emmaus Road cell phone which will reach one of our two Travel Coordinators. The request is added to our calendar, and a coordinator calls to find and schedule a driver.
“Emmaus Road has been a blessing to me. Everyone was there for me when I needed rides. All of the drivers are friendly.” - Henry Parks - Traveler
Emmaus Road drivers have the very loving experience of providing people with access to food and health services. They even do simple things like deliver jugs of water to a home with no safe water for drinking or cooking. They take our veterans to the VA hospital in Wilkes-Barre for their medical care. And our drivers and travelers express their joy in road trips with each other. Our ministry name comes from St. Luke Chapter 24 because our ministry is modeled after two people traveling together and our Lord Jesus being with them, whether they recognize His presence or not.
“I have been a driver for the Emmaus Road Ministry since it was started. I volunteered because, having retired, I had free time to do something, and what better than to drive for this ministry? After several assignments, I began to realize the impact I was having on the individuals I was helping. Besides just driving, there is conversation, and a meaningful connection with another person. Being there to listen to and talk with someone who is often alone and was happy to have someone to talk to was enjoyable. Sometimes the conversation was helpful to them, but other times it was helpful to me. Just like the travelers on the Emmaus Road from Luke’s Gospel, where travelers have become aware of the risen Lord, I have also been enlightened. I have very much enjoyed being part of this ministry and plan to continue as long as there is a need.” - Tom Chegwidden - Driver
In 2020 our transportation ministry did not grow in the way it did in previous years, that is in the earthly ways we sometimes measure growth: like the number of trips, volunteer hours, or total miles driven by our team. Yet the ministry still grew in depth and importance. Although we shutdown all travel for four months during the pandemic and our mission tasks became more difficult, we maintained contact with our travelers. Drivers also helped haul food to ministry locations and made many home deliveries. Emmaus Road grew into a deeper relationship with the community. As we gradually resumed “normal travel,” it was clear that our team had spread the light of Christ through a very dark and unsettling time. In 2021 we rejoiced in our efforts to provide trips our travelers needed to get their COVID vaccinations.
“I have only good things to say about the drivers,” “We don’t know what we would do without you.” – Barb & Joseph Zahay - Travelers.
“I hear frequently from our travelers about the dedication, patience, and caring concern, of our drivers and coordinators. Our team is an uplifting presence to them.” – Br. Fred
“I felt a need to give back to my community, and our transportation ministry gives me a continual way, week to week, to care for others. Our drivers are committed to the people we help. Our travelers care a great deal about us. They appreciate us and tell us consistently how grateful they are for our help. We have become well connected friends. – Mary Lou Keck, Travel Coordinator.
Over nearly ten years - our ministry, which began with 10 travelers and 9 drivers, has grown to 33 travelers, 24 drivers, and 2 travel coordinators.
Our umbrella insurance requires volunteers to provide us with a clean 3-year driving report from the PA DMV as part of the detailed application to become an approved Emmaus Road Driver. Our ministry offers 14 cents a mile reimbursement for our drivers. However, over 90 percent of the drivers have opted out of reimbursement. We have given out appreciation gifts. Last month, we gave each driver and coordinator a 25-dollar gift card for gas or convenience store items. All participants sign a Release and Waiver of Liability Form which is based on the Pennsylvania form for activities related to transportation provided by volunteers. Written ministry reports are provided annually to the Valley Interfaith Council and are included in the bulletin of reports for the Annual Congregational meeting at Christ Lutheran Church, Conyngham.
For the record, our efforts are not always easy or smooth. At times we help people who are “hard to love.” And looking at our Unusual Incident logbook there have been calls to local police to perform welfare checks when we could not find or contact a traveler. We also had one accident, which thankfully was only a damaged rural mailbox and a scratched bumper. Brother Fred once gave an entire day to taking a traveler car shopping so that she could start providing her own transportation. When travelers moved in with family or found a new assisted or senior living home where they no longer need our help. Our team put in significant effort to help them transition to their new living arrangement. Our team members value relationships and embrace sacrificial love.
Some trivia: After almost 10 years, our longest logged ministry trip was 130 miles and our average trip distance is 35 miles, which is the total distance, from the driver leaving home until the driver returns home. Brother Fred still holds the record for the shortest round trip of 1.8 miles. (it was a short trip with a long story)
And a closing quote: “The Emmaus Road ministry has provided me a great way to assist members of our community. My faith journey is strengthened by helping to meet the needs of others.” – Julie Varner – Driver
[Note: The quoted remarks and pictures included in this blog were from a public Local Hazleton TV News station segment and/or a ministry video presentation at an ELCA Northeast Pennsylvania Synod Assembly. Permission was granted for public use.]
