At the Exit Ramp, a United Methodist Chaplain Offers Prayer, Hospitality and Hope

By Rev. Benjamin Perry

Sometimes, the road to Damascus passes through Breezewood, Pennsylvania. There at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 76, the Rev. Bruce Maxwell, a United Methodist deacon who serves as an endorsed chaplain at the travel plaza, cares for truckers, travelers, or anyone passing through.  

"It's a ministry of prayer, presence, counsel, hospitality, and emergency assistance," Maxwell said. "Those major roads populate the town quite readily every day by the thousands. Those are the folks we work with." 

It's a fitting ministry for a man whose life is indelibly shaped by chance encounters. His conversion to Christianity happened at a Michigan laundromat, when he and his brother happened to come across a traveler who shared his faith. Later his call after seminary emerged on a 40-day sojourn.  

"I didn't feel the call to be appointed, so I sold what I had, gave away the rest, and hit the road." Maxwell said. "I was living hand to mouth, sleeping under the stars, eating cold soup from a can. When money ran out, I stayed at a homeless shelter, worked for a few people — it was a glorious experience in the providence of God." 

Now, he shares the same generosity he found with the folks traveling through Breezewood. His position was created by a group of local business leaders and clergy who wanted to embody Christ for visitors on the road.  

"I literally look around for people who are stuck, stranded; anyone who might need a little helping hand, some food or clothing," Maxwell said. "We have hygiene packages, camping gear, Bibles to give away."  

He walks around the travel plaza visiting employees and runs a weekly Bible study, gathering workers and travelers alike. Several times a year, he organizes "hospitality tables" with baked goods, drinks, devotionals, and care packages provided by local churches who also staff the table.  

"People who come into a commercial setting can't believe it. They'll ask, 'What's the catch?'" Maxwell said. "It's like the gospel, no money required — it's a free gift; all we have to do is accept it." 

One thing he's learned in the position is never to underestimate the power of a brief interaction filled with love.  

"Yesterday, I made a hospital visit in Pittsburgh, visiting a woman who's battling cancer that's pretty dire," he said. "She initially came into Breezewood a few decades ago when her 1985 Volvo broke down and she got stranded, so our ministry was called. It's not that we've remained close through the years, but she's still in the area and so she called from the ICU in her moment of need." 

That's a more intimate pastoral experience than most, but it's filled with the same care and compassion Maxwell brings to brief interactions. "Often, I bump into someone for 5 or 10 minutes," he said. "I'll never see them again because they're just stopping through, but in offering a meal, buying them some gas, or just listening to their story and praying with them, I have the chance to sow seeds of Christ." 

Maxwell is enthusiastic about the opportunities that workplace chaplaincy affords.  

"We are at a point where expressions of faith and fellowship are remaking themselves. It's a perfect moment to look at your own community, neighborhood, or workplace and ask, 'Is this a place where the church can make a difference?'" he said. "In Breezewood, this ministry formed when people started asking those questions. We just need to listen when the Spirit speaks, because the Holy Spirit is alive and well."

The Rev. Benjamin Perry is the associate vice president for communications at Garrett Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and is author of Cry, Baby: Why Our Tears Matter.