For almost 10 years, Roland Dann served as senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Springfield before he resigned and started a ministry to the truckers across America.

For the past five years, Roland and his wife Linda have traveled over 390,000 miles in 46 states and two Canadian provinces sharing the gospel message with truckers from coast to coast.

During those years as pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, the church grew, reaching hundreds of people in the area. The church also was involved in mission and disaster relief work. They helped build a church in Belize and led a vacation Bible school for the children while in that area. They made two mission trips to that country and also sent Christmas boxes to more than 300 children for several years.

In addition, several mission trips were made to a sister church in Montegut, La., where they led a vacation Bible school, back yard Bible studies and made major repairs to the church.

The Danns said they have a heart to reach lost and unchurched people and to minister to the needs of hurting families everywhere. They are starting a new church to be called The Lighthouse. It will be a Southern Baptist church and services will begin June 1 at 10 a.m. in the Springfield branch of Citizens Bank.

Those without a church home are invited to join them.