Moving from California to Pennsylvania in June 2026!

The upcoming move from California to Pennsylvania is well over 2,600 miles!

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With a very long distance move and a substantial change in church ministry, there are many friends, family, and fellow enthusiasts that will have questions. In this post, I have decided to pose those questions and give pertinent answers to all that is taking place as much of this dramatic change in life and life's work will have implications for HotRodReverend.com and the future.

What in the world is going on here?

In June of 2026, we will be moving from Lancaster, California to Red Lion, Pennsylvania. The Red Lion Bible Church, an independent baptist congregation, extended a pastoral candidacy opportunity to me earlier this year. Their pastor is in the process of retiring due to his age, and he had recommended me to fill the office of pastor. Over the past 30 years, I have preached or taught at Red Lion Bible Church many times. In March, the church voted almost unanimously to extend a call to me to be their pastor. I have accepted the position to fill the office, fully believing that the Lord would have my wife and I move back to Pennsylvania (we lived in Lancaster County from 1997 to 2003) for one final season of pastoral work.

You are invited to come visit us any time you are in town or passing through!

Is this church aware you are a gearhead?

Of all the churches in which I have served, Red Lion Bible Church has the most classic car enthusiasts per capita. The church is fully aware of Hot Rod Reverend ministries, the YouTube channel, the website, and all the rest. After the men on the pulpit committee finished their interview, one of them jokingly asked if we could get down to serious business because he needed help with a carburetor on his muscle car. The leadership and congregation are extremely supportive, and their day school, Red Lion Christian School, even has a machine shop class operating on property for high school students. The Carlisle fair grounds are only an hour away, and there have already been discussions of church involvement at that venue in the future.

The Carlisle swap meet used to be an annual trip; now it will be the closest it's ever been.

What will happen to HotRodReverend.com?

Subscribers can expect a bit of a lull in the blog articles over the summer. During the month of June the website store will remain open, but the only items available will be those that are drop shipped. Inventory such as stickers or parts will not be avaiable until July or August since it will take some time to get oriented. We do appreciate your patience and understanding.

The website will only experience a brief pause in posting of articles and a delay in the store.

What about the YouTube Channel @HotRodReverend?

For the time being, many of the videos that are not recorded yet (the Wednesdays in the Word, various Y Block technical tips or DIY videos for mid-50's Fords, etc) will certainly not pick up again until later this year. I do have several videos that are already in the works for the end of May and early June - those will be posted according to schedule. Since there are several friends who have asked about logistics, I will be vlogging about my experiences of moving my 1955 Ford Fairlane, various parts, my tools, and of course the 342 c.i. build from California to Pennsylvania. That all has its own varying degrees of difficulty. Having moved quite a bit from West Virginia to Ohio in 2015, then Ohio to California in 2023, I do believe I have some experience that may be a benefit to those who will end up encountering the same hurdles. While I would like nothing more to have lived in the same place for a lifetime, the duty to which I have been called has led me otherwise. No complaints - we will work through all of it.

Having a car hauled 2,600 miles can be a little nerve racking...

Have you lost your mind?

Some would say so. However, my wife certainly believes I am in my right mind and is rather looking forward to Pennsylvania. Many ministry colleauges across the country are also very supportive. During our time at Lancaster Baptist Church, we have made many friends, enjoyed the beautiiful landscape and people of California, and of course I was able to spend time with the Y Block Guy himself, Tim McMaster. I am a blessed man, way beyond what I deserve. Then too, the call of the pastoral ministry (the "reverend" side of Hot Rod Reverend) is ever present.

Titus 1:7-9 states:

"For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."

April and I are looking forward to what will prayerfully be our final season of church ministry.

The Hot Rod Reverend

aka Daniel Jessup