By Workamper Chaplain Robert N. Ruesch
In the early days of American history, pastors rode on horseback from one church to another. These “circuit rider preachers” carried little more than what fit in their saddlebags as they traveled the uncharted wilderness, preaching nearly every day wherever they could gather a crowd.
Today, the saddlebag preachers have evolved – now traveling not by horse, but by RV.
From Circuit Riders to RV Chaplains
The modern RV Chaplain may drive an air-conditioned truck and live in a fifth wheel, motorhome, or trailer, but the mission remains the same: to bring God’s word to those they meet on the road.
Instead of villages, today’s chaplains serve in destination and wayside RV resorts. The main hall becomes a sanctuary on Sundays. Services are streamed online. Messages are shared through cell phones, Zoom, and FaceTime – connecting chaplains with their home churches and fellow ministers across the country.
“We follow a Workamper model,” says Dr. Bill Artherholt, board chairman of Christian Resort Ministries (CRM). “We work with RV resorts to supply a site for the Chaplain and a space for worship services, Bible studies, and other events. Everything is coordinated with the resort’s Activity Director.”
Though the tools have changed, the calling has not. “God still calls individuals into His service, the same way He always has,” Artherholt says. “He touches the individual’s heart.”
Called to Serve
“I never thought I would be doing chaplain work,” says Ed Bevill from Kentucky. “I came to retire and enjoy the winter weather.”
One evening, while Ed and his wife, Patty, were walking at the RV resort where they were staying, the resident chaplain stopped to chat. They became friends, and soon Ed and Patty began attending the resort’s Sunday services.
“The Chaplain suggested that I consider becoming a chaplain and preaching in an RV resort,” Ed recalls.
Over the next year, the two men stayed in touch by phone and email. Then, one January, the resort chaplain was involved in an auto accident and couldn’t continue his duties.
“He ‘volunteered’ me to fill in for a few weeks,” Ed says with a smile. “Those few weeks turned into the entire season – and now I’m in my tenth season serving as a Chaplain.”
The Workamping Side of Ministry
Ed and his wife now drive from the East Coast to Arizona each year to serve at a large RV resort where they lead worship services and Bible studies for residents.
Since its founding in 2002 in a San Antonio hotel lobby, Christian Resort Ministries has grown from two chaplains to more than forty, serving both summer and winter locations across the United States.
“People believe we think outside the box,” says Senior Chaplain Bob, CEO of CRM. “Jesus didn’t send an email to the lepers asking them to meet Him for coffee – He went to them. That’s what we do.”
Each chaplain receives training, background checks, and interviews before being placed in a resort. Once on-site, they hold Sunday services, small-group Bible studies, and often provide crisis counseling or emotional support.
“We bring in professional Christian music entertainment for services and concerts,” says CRM’s Administrative Coordinator, Vicki Troutman. “Our chaplains are there for spiritual guidance – but they also care for the residents in practical ways.”
A Blessing for RV Parks and Residents
Resort managers recognize the value of having a non-denominational chaplain on-site. With a chaplain present, managers can focus on operations while knowing their residents’ spiritual and personal needs are being met.
“When someone goes to the hospital, the RV Chaplain visits them,” Ed explains. “We make sure their needs are understood and attended to – sometimes even doing their grocery shopping or helping with errands.”
The presence of chaplains also benefits the resort’s business. Many RV park owners report that guests stay longer or return year after year because of the supportive community fostered by the ministry.
Supported by Faith
Financially, chaplains rely on their own resources and donations from individuals who believe in the ministry.
“We’re faith-based – just like the early circuit saddlebag preachers,” says Chaplain Jim Gilpin. “We’re doing the same work, just in modern times.”
CRM’s mission is simple but powerful:
To bring the Word of God to those who know Him and to those who do not.
If you feel called to become an RV chaplain, you can call 210-549-9006 to speak with a Regional Director or visit www.crmintl.org.
Ministry on the Move
Whether it’s leading Bible study, offering counseling, or even helping align a satellite dish, the RV Chaplain serves with humility and heart.
He may work a seasonal ministry on earth, but the impact lasts far beyond any campground.
Each time he looks to the heavens for just the right signal – both literal and spiritual – he’s reminded that the calling of a modern RV Chaplain carries the same power and purpose as the preachers who once rode by horseback.
These modern-day circuit riders may travel by motorhome instead of horseback, but their mission remains timeless – bringing faith, comfort, and community wherever the road leads.
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