Church Bus Evangelism
By Tom Brizzle
A great deal of interest is being manifested among many churches for information on church bus evangelism. The following is some of the basic information often needed by a church interested in church bus evangelism.
12 Basic Laws of Church Bus Evangelism
1. The size of the church has no bearing upon the effectiveness of the church bus evangelism.
2. The location of the church (rural, small town, residential, suburban, downtown, or urban) has no bearing upon the effectiveness of church bus evangelism.
3. The age of the church has no bearing upon the effectiveness of church bus evangelism.
4. The population density of the area has very little relationship, for all practical purposes, upon the effectiveness of church bus evangelism (except in the desolate mountains and deserts of the west).
5. The income level of the area has no bearing upon the effectiveness of church bus evangelism. The response in the low income area, the middle income area, and the upper income area will be about the same if the proper procedures are followed.
6. The racial or ethnic characteristics of the community have no bearing upon the effectiveness of church bus evangelism.
7. Children do not think like adults. And adults must consider the thought pattern of children in order to be effective with them. For example, most adults are “turned off” at the thoughts of riding a bus to church but children love it. Most adults are “turned off” at the thoughts .of riding an hour to church but children love it. They enjoy bus ride with friends!
8. Children like to go places-almost any place-and especially with other children. Most children do not have any place to go on Sunday mornings. Most children like riding buses, contests, awards, treats, socials, attention, activities, singing, and other such things.
9. The number of hours the bus workers spend visiting each Saturday determines the success or failure of church bus evangelism. The Sunday results are won or lost by sundown Saturday.
10. Many people will respond to God’s love when they see it manifested in the lives of the church members every week.
11. The number of people attending any church and being baptized by any church is determined primarily by the attitude of the pastor and the church leaders-not by the buildings, the location, or the number of people in the community.
12. Change and growth go hand-in-hand. The church that never changes will never grow in a significant way. All changes do not produce growth but all significant growth must be accompanied by appropriate changes.
A great deal of interest is being manifested among many churches for information on church bus evangelism. The following is some of the basic information often needed by a church interested in church bus evangelism.
12 Foundation Principles of Church Bus Evangelism
1. A tremendous amount of work is required. Most successful bus workers devote many hours every Saturday to this work. It also means getting to the church an hour or two early each Sunday morning and return home for a late lunch. The average time is about 15+ hours per week enlisting riders.
2. The church members who use every Saturday and Sunday in evangelizing the area will earn some very significant awards in this life as well as in Heaven.
3. Most of the riders are children-only a few adults ride the church buses. But an understanding as to the amount of time and concern that Jesus had for children will cause church leaders to re-adjust some philosophies and activities.
4. Most parents want their children to receive religious training. Many do not want it badly enough to get up and take them to church but they will let them ride the church bus that stops in front of their house every Sunday.
5. An excellent way to reach parents is through their children. All parents cannot be reached through their children. There is a great value in having in the unchurched home a child that shares his enthusiasm about riding the church bus for an enjoyable and profitable experience at church. The children tiding the bus can help to open the door into the hearts of their parents.
6. One of the best ways to win the world to Christ is to evangelize the youth.
7. Most people will not come to church-they must be brought. Most people will not study the Bible-they must be taught. Most people will not accept Christ-they must be won.
8. Jesus never commanded the lost to come to church but He did command the church to go to the lost.
9. The devil begins working in every way possible when the church really gets serious about evangelizing the area.
10. God will and does greatly bless a church that dares to transition from an average 21st century congregation to an aggressive New Testament church!
11. The blessings of God and the results accomplished make it worth the costs, the problems, and the work.
12. This will give a new direction to the average church. It can help in the transition from a “come meet” church to a “go bring” church.
Adapted from “Bus Ministry Handbook” by Tom Brizzle
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”
