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Chaplain Jim Keys, “Father of Trucking Industry Ministry”

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Jim Keys was the son of a Safety Director, later Manager, for a trucking company called Direct-Winter Trucking in Toronto, Canada. At the age of 15 years, Jim began working as a “Truck Jockey” at the same company, and was burned while fueling up a tractor when a lit cigarette hit the fuel.

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As he became older, Jim’s interest in the business grew, and in the early 50’s he began earning a living driving a truck across Canada and the United States. In 1950-51 Jim made a decision to follow Christ as his personal Savior. He drove for around 8 years before going into full time ministry to the trucking industry.

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Jim received his spiritual training in Toronto at Queens Lake Cathedral by the late great man of God, Dr. Alex Ness, his Senior Pastor from 1955 – 1962 who was also involved as a mentor in training this author in 1979-80. They began preparation and before long Jim and his wife, Almeda, were called into service for Jesus. As the couple had children, they grew up under the ministry of the late Rev. Leonard Evans.

Jim’s ministry began by simply visiting truck drivers in hospital settings, praying for their needs, their healing and salvation. Then he went to trucking companies giving “Safety Seminars” that included the Gospel. One day, after attending a Youth For Christ rally, Jim had a thought – there is a Youth for Christ, then why can’t there be a Transport for Christ? The question gave birth to a vision – a vision specifically as an outreach to truck drivers. That vision in turn gave birth to the ministry 'Transport for Christ' in July 1951 in Toronto.

Truckers for Christ.

Around 1986, Jim, his daughter Bonilee & staff launched the “Wheels Alive” Magazine that was printed for several years, at one point reaching as many as 4000 or more followers in the trucking industry. Bonilee, until her recent retirement, was very active as Vice President /Secretary of the ministry, as well as Editor of the magazine. “Wheels Alive” was discontinued for future development in another area that would bring it up to date in a more modern format. As the ministry developed, Chaplain Jim Keys was ordained and credentialed with Gospel Crusade Ministerial Fellowship (now called Global Christian Ministry Forum nternational) out of Stevens, Pennsylvania. Over the years he developed a friendship with Dr. Gerald Derstine, Apostle & founder of GCMF and Gospel Crusade, Inc. Gerald’s son, Dr. Phil Derstine is president of GCI and Senior Pastor of The Family Church at Christian Retreat in Bradenton, Florida. He is gifted as an Evangelist as well, a graduate of ORU and speaker on “Unconventional Soul Winning.”

Jim was drawn to Phil’s passion for ministry out on the streets and at the local race track, a ministry that required the same mix of love and boldness needed to reach truckers.

As Jim’s health began failing, he knew that he needed someone to take over the ministry, someone who would continue his vision and legacy. His prayers directed him to speak with this strong combination of leadership from Gospel Crusade in continuing this ministry to truck drivers. In 1993 the Derstines and others began to pray.

In 1994 the merger of two boards GCI and ACT took place. Jim would continue to minister until his last days when he went home with Jesus in 1996. Sister Almeda continued faithfully as an adviser to the board, retiring in Florida and going to her eternal reward in June 2011.

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• The battle rages for the souls of men and women. The dream and vision continues…all to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ! This ministry carries on, with Dr. Phil Derstine, President of the Board, and an active and revitalized Board of Directors and Advisers. Keep the vision aflame and keep us in your prayers; let God lead you in how you can be part of this ministry.

   

• Philippians 3:8-16 American Standard Version (ASV) 8 Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:10 that I may know himand the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;11 if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.13 Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:16 only, whereunto we have attained, by that same rule let us walk.

   

• Some of this documentary was given verbally by Bonilee Maclay, one of Jim & Almeda’s daughters; also contributing was a minister of the Gospel, now 83 years of age, Denne Kornechuk aka “Popeye The Good News Man” who grew up with Jim and was on his early boards at Transport for Christ, and later, Association of Christian Truckers. Another retired board member, Art Korby, and others who stood by him have blessed us with input into this history.